The Committee on the\nEnvironment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the\nown-initiative report by Dagmar ROTH-BEHRENDT (S&D, DE) on\nTransmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) and on related feed\nand food controls - implementation and outlook. It welcomes the\nCommission's TSE Road Map 2 - A Strategy Paper on Transmissible\nSpongiform Encephalopathies ((COM(2010)0384),)\nand its proposals for certain revisions of the current TSE\nlegislation regime in the EU, but stresses that certain provisions\nneed thorough assessment and will only be supported under certain\nconditions. Members underline the importance of ensuring that the\nsignificant decline in BSE cases in the European Union - from 2167\ncases in 2001 to 67 cases in 2009- does not lead to less stringent\nTSE measures or to a reduction in the strict control and\nsurveillance mechanisms in the EU.
\nBSE\nsurveillance: the report takes note\nof the increase in age limits for TSE testing of bovine animals\nabove 72 months in 22 Member States (Commission Decision amending\nDecision 2009/719/EC) and it urges the Commission to increase the\nage limits in the remaining Member States only if supported by\nsound risk assessments in order not to jeopardise a high level of\nanimal health and consumer protection. The committee expresses its\nconcern about another rise in the age limits for testing in bovine\nanimals in view in particular of the sample size testing which will\ngovern the BSE monitoring system in bovine animals from January\n2013, and it calls on the Commission to inform Parliament about\nprogress and new findings on the sample sizes to be chosen. The\nCommission is urged to maintain the testing of risk animals as an\nimportant element in continuing to monitor the trend of BSE cases\nin the EU.
\nRevision of the feed\nban: in the light of the existing\nprotein deficit in the EU, Members support the Commission proposal\nto lift the provisions banning the feeding of processed animal\nproteins to non-ruminants, provided that this applies to\nnon-herbivores only, and only under certain conditions which it\nspecifies in the report, including the following: (i) the processed\nanimal proteins are only derived from species which are not linked\nto TSEs, (ii) the production and sterilisation methods used\nfor processed animal proteins comply with the highest safety\nstandards and with the rules laid down in the animal by-products\nRegulation and use the newest and safest technology available; and\n(iii) the existing prohibitions on intra-species recycling\n('cannibalism') remain in place. The committee calls on the\nCommission:
\nSRM list:\nMembers expect the Commission to maintain the\nstrict standards contained in the EU SRM list, and they urge the\nCommission to consider modifications to the EU SRM list only if\nsupported by scientific facts, under the application of the\nprecautionary principle.
\nResearch on\nTSEs: Members dismiss the Commission\nproposal to reduce EU funding for research on TSEs. They urge the\nlatter to encourage genetic control of scrapie in sheep through\nbreeding and rearing programmes aimed at avoiding inbreeding or\ngenetic drift, and also to put into place measures to encourage\nongoing research on scrapie resistance in goats and on atypcial\nscrapie as this could contribute to the eradication of TSEs in the\nEU.
\nCohort\nculling: Members feel that prior to\nany change to the cohort culling policy, the following aspects must\nbe taken into account in order to maintain a high level of consumer\ntrust: (1) consumer protection, (2) any risks to human and animal\nhealth and (3) continuing the practice of enabling risk managers\nand legislators to take the necessary immediate action in the case\nof a re-emergence of BSE in the EU.
\nFood and feed\nsafety: Members take note of the\nCommission Report on the overall operation of official controls in\nthe Member States in food safety, and call on the Commission to\nexecute efficient monitoring of the controls performed by Member\nStates. They express concern about the contamination of food and\nfeed, e. g. with dioxin, and call on Member States to enforce and\napply existing regulations on food and feed controls and risk\nmanagement very strictly and if needed, to strengthen those rules\nand ensure harmonised implementation by using common guidelines\nacross the internal market. The Commission is asked to re-evaluate\nthe threshold limit value for dioxin in fish-meal as the current\nlimit allows high dioxin concentration posing a risk to human and\nanimal health.
\nMechanically separated\nmeat: the committee expresses concern\nabout current EU legislation and implementation in the Member\nStates on mechanically separated meat, and calls on Member States\nto review their implementation of definitions of mechanically\nseparated meat in line with the existing rules. It wants mandatory\nlabelling of mechanically separated meat in food in order better to\ninform consumers. Lastly, Members ask the Commission to inform\nthird countries about any changes made to the TSE Regulation and\nmeasures related to TSEs.
\nThe European Parliament\nadopted a resolution on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies\n(TSE) and on related feed and food controls - implementation and\noutlook. It welcomes the Commission's TSE Road Map 2 -\nA Strategy Paper on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, and\nits proposals for certain revisions of the current TSE legislation\nregime in the EU, but stresses that certain provisions need\nthorough assessment and will only be supported under certain\nconditions.
\nMembers underline the\nimportance of ensuring that the significant decline in BSE cases in\nthe EU - from 2167 cases in 2001 to 67 cases in 2009- does not lead\nto less stringent TSE measures or to a reduction in the strict\ncontrol and surveillance mechanisms in the EU.
\nBSE\nsurveillance: Parliament takes note of the increase in age\nlimits for TSE testing of bovine animals above 72 months in 22\nMember States (Commission Decision amending Decision 2009/719/EC)\nand it urges the Commission to increase the age limits in the\nremaining Member States only if supported by sound risk assessments\nin order not to jeopardise a high level of animal health and\nconsumer protection. It expresses its concern about another rise in\nthe age limits for testing in bovine animals in view in particular\nof the sample size testing which will govern the BSE monitoring\nsystem in bovine animals from January 2013, and it calls on the\nCommission to inform Parliament about progress and new findings on\nthe sample sizes to be chosen. The Commission is urged to maintain\nthe testing of risk animals as an important element in continuing\nto monitor the trend of BSE cases in the EU.
\nRevision of the feed\nban: in the light of the existing\nprotein deficit in the EU, Members support the Commission proposal\nto lift the provisions banning the feeding of processed animal\nproteins to non-ruminants, provided that this applies to\nnon-herbivores only, and only under certain conditions which it\nspecifies in the report, including the following: (i) the processed\nanimal proteins are only derived from species which are not linked\nto TSEs, (ii) the production and sterilisation methods used\nfor processed animal proteins comply with the highest safety\nstandards and with the rules laid down in the animal by-products\nRegulation and use the newest and safest technology available; and\n(iii) the existing prohibitions on intra-species recycling\n('cannibalism') remain in place. Parliament calls on the\nCommission:
\nSRM list: Members expect the\nCommission to maintain the strict standards contained in the EU SRM\nlist, and they urge the Commission to consider modifications to the\nEU SRM list only if supported by scientific facts, under the\napplication of the precautionary principle.
\nResearch on\nTSEs: Members dismiss the Commission proposal to\nreduce EU funding for research on TSEs. They urge the Commission to\nencourage genetic control of scrapie in sheep through breeding and\nrearing programmes aimed at avoiding inbreeding or genetic drift,\nand to put into place measures to encourage ongoing research on\nscrapie resistance in goats and on atypcial scrapie as this could\ncontribute to the eradication of TSEs in the EU. In addition, the\nCommission is called upon to encourage ongoing research to develop\nante-mortem and post-mortem rapid BSE-diagnostic tests.
\nCohort\nculling: Members feel that prior to\nany change to the cohort culling policy, the following aspects must\nbe taken into account in order to maintain a high level of consumer\ntrust: (1) consumer protection, (2) any risks to human and animal\nhealth and (3) continuing the practice of enabling risk managers\nand legislators to take the necessary immediate action in the case\nof a re-emergence of BSE in the EU.
\nFood and feed\nsafety: Members take note of the Commission Report on the\noverall operation of official controls in the Member States in food\nsafety, and call on the Commission to execute efficient monitoring\nof the controls performed by Member States. They express\nconcern about the contamination of food and feed, e. g. with\ndioxin, and call on Member States to enforce and apply existing\nregulations on food and feed controls and risk management very\nstrictly and if needed, to strengthen those rules and ensure\nharmonised implementation by using common guidelines across the\ninternal market. Parliament calls on the Commission and Member\nStates to take measures to ensure that the requirements laid down\nin Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and in implementing Regulation (EU)\nNo 142/2011 relating to the treatment of animal by-products prior\nto their transformation into biogas and the use or disposal of\ndigestion residues are complied with and illegal diversion into the\nfeed chain is prevented. It urges the Commission to monitor the way\nin which the current rules are implemented in the Member States to\nensure a closed circuit for this activity.
\nMechanically separated\nmeat: Parliamentexpresses concern about current EU legislation and\nimplementation in the Member States on mechanically separated meat,\nand calls on Member States to review their implementation of\ndefinitions of mechanically separated meat in line with the\nexisting rules. It wants mandatory labelling of mechanically\nseparated meat in food in order better to inform consumers. Lastly,\nMembers ask the Commission to inform third countries about any\nchanges made to the TSE Regulation and measures related to\nTSEs.
\nThe Committee on the\nEnvironment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the\nown-initiative report by Dagmar ROTH-BEHRENDT (S&D, DE) on\nTransmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) and on related feed\nand food controls - implementation and outlook. It welcomes the\nCommission's TSE Road Map 2 - A Strategy Paper on Transmissible\nSpongiform Encephalopathies ((COM(2010)0384),)\nand its proposals for certain revisions of the current TSE\nlegislation regime in the EU, but stresses that certain provisions\nneed thorough assessment and will only be supported under certain\nconditions. Members underline the importance of ensuring that the\nsignificant decline in BSE cases in the European Union - from 2167\ncases in 2001 to 67 cases in 2009- does not lead to less stringent\nTSE measures or to a reduction in the strict control and\nsurveillance mechanisms in the EU.
\nBSE\nsurveillance: the report takes note\nof the increase in age limits for TSE testing of bovine animals\nabove 72 months in 22 Member States (Commission Decision amending\nDecision 2009/719/EC) and it urges the Commission to increase the\nage limits in the remaining Member States only if supported by\nsound risk assessments in order not to jeopardise a high level of\nanimal health and consumer protection. The committee expresses its\nconcern about another rise in the age limits for testing in bovine\nanimals in view in particular of the sample size testing which will\ngovern the BSE monitoring system in bovine animals from January\n2013, and it calls on the Commission to inform Parliament about\nprogress and new findings on the sample sizes to be chosen. The\nCommission is urged to maintain the testing of risk animals as an\nimportant element in continuing to monitor the trend of BSE cases\nin the EU.
\nRevision of the feed\nban: in the light of the existing\nprotein deficit in the EU, Members support the Commission proposal\nto lift the provisions banning the feeding of processed animal\nproteins to non-ruminants, provided that this applies to\nnon-herbivores only, and only under certain conditions which it\nspecifies in the report, including the following: (i) the processed\nanimal proteins are only derived from species which are not linked\nto TSEs, (ii) the production and sterilisation methods used\nfor processed animal proteins comply with the highest safety\nstandards and with the rules laid down in the animal by-products\nRegulation and use the newest and safest technology available; and\n(iii) the existing prohibitions on intra-species recycling\n('cannibalism') remain in place. The committee calls on the\nCommission:
\nSRM list:\nMembers expect the Commission to maintain the\nstrict standards contained in the EU SRM list, and they urge the\nCommission to consider modifications to the EU SRM list only if\nsupported by scientific facts, under the application of the\nprecautionary principle.
\nResearch on\nTSEs: Members dismiss the Commission\nproposal to reduce EU funding for research on TSEs. They urge the\nlatter to encourage genetic control of scrapie in sheep through\nbreeding and rearing programmes aimed at avoiding inbreeding or\ngenetic drift, and also to put into place measures to encourage\nongoing research on scrapie resistance in goats and on atypcial\nscrapie as this could contribute to the eradication of TSEs in the\nEU.
\nCohort\nculling: Members feel that prior to\nany change to the cohort culling policy, the following aspects must\nbe taken into account in order to maintain a high level of consumer\ntrust: (1) consumer protection, (2) any risks to human and animal\nhealth and (3) continuing the practice of enabling risk managers\nand legislators to take the necessary immediate action in the case\nof a re-emergence of BSE in the EU.
\nFood and feed\nsafety: Members take note of the\nCommission Report on the overall operation of official controls in\nthe Member States in food safety, and call on the Commission to\nexecute efficient monitoring of the controls performed by Member\nStates. They express concern about the contamination of food and\nfeed, e. g. with dioxin, and call on Member States to enforce and\napply existing regulations on food and feed controls and risk\nmanagement very strictly and if needed, to strengthen those rules\nand ensure harmonised implementation by using common guidelines\nacross the internal market. The Commission is asked to re-evaluate\nthe threshold limit value for dioxin in fish-meal as the current\nlimit allows high dioxin concentration posing a risk to human and\nanimal health.
\nMechanically separated\nmeat: the committee expresses concern\nabout current EU legislation and implementation in the Member\nStates on mechanically separated meat, and calls on Member States\nto review their implementation of definitions of mechanically\nseparated meat in line with the existing rules. It wants mandatory\nlabelling of mechanically separated meat in food in order better to\ninform consumers. Lastly, Members ask the Commission to inform\nthird countries about any changes made to the TSE Regulation and\nmeasures related to TSEs.
\nThe European Parliament\nadopted a resolution on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies\n(TSE) and on related feed and food controls - implementation and\noutlook. It welcomes the Commission's TSE Road Map 2 -\nA Strategy Paper on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, and\nits proposals for certain revisions of the current TSE legislation\nregime in the EU, but stresses that certain provisions need\nthorough assessment and will only be supported under certain\nconditions.
\nMembers underline the\nimportance of ensuring that the significant decline in BSE cases in\nthe EU - from 2167 cases in 2001 to 67 cases in 2009- does not lead\nto less stringent TSE measures or to a reduction in the strict\ncontrol and surveillance mechanisms in the EU.
\nBSE\nsurveillance: Parliament takes note of the increase in age\nlimits for TSE testing of bovine animals above 72 months in 22\nMember States (Commission Decision amending Decision 2009/719/EC)\nand it urges the Commission to increase the age limits in the\nremaining Member States only if supported by sound risk assessments\nin order not to jeopardise a high level of animal health and\nconsumer protection. It expresses its concern about another rise in\nthe age limits for testing in bovine animals in view in particular\nof the sample size testing which will govern the BSE monitoring\nsystem in bovine animals from January 2013, and it calls on the\nCommission to inform Parliament about progress and new findings on\nthe sample sizes to be chosen. The Commission is urged to maintain\nthe testing of risk animals as an important element in continuing\nto monitor the trend of BSE cases in the EU.
\nRevision of the feed\nban: in the light of the existing\nprotein deficit in the EU, Members support the Commission proposal\nto lift the provisions banning the feeding of processed animal\nproteins to non-ruminants, provided that this applies to\nnon-herbivores only, and only under certain conditions which it\nspecifies in the report, including the following: (i) the processed\nanimal proteins are only derived from species which are not linked\nto TSEs, (ii) the production and sterilisation methods used\nfor processed animal proteins comply with the highest safety\nstandards and with the rules laid down in the animal by-products\nRegulation and use the newest and safest technology available; and\n(iii) the existing prohibitions on intra-species recycling\n('cannibalism') remain in place. Parliament calls on the\nCommission:
\nSRM list: Members expect the\nCommission to maintain the strict standards contained in the EU SRM\nlist, and they urge the Commission to consider modifications to the\nEU SRM list only if supported by scientific facts, under the\napplication of the precautionary principle.
\nResearch on\nTSEs: Members dismiss the Commission proposal to\nreduce EU funding for research on TSEs. They urge the Commission to\nencourage genetic control of scrapie in sheep through breeding and\nrearing programmes aimed at avoiding inbreeding or genetic drift,\nand to put into place measures to encourage ongoing research on\nscrapie resistance in goats and on atypcial scrapie as this could\ncontribute to the eradication of TSEs in the EU. In addition, the\nCommission is called upon to encourage ongoing research to develop\nante-mortem and post-mortem rapid BSE-diagnostic tests.
\nCohort\nculling: Members feel that prior to\nany change to the cohort culling policy, the following aspects must\nbe taken into account in order to maintain a high level of consumer\ntrust: (1) consumer protection, (2) any risks to human and animal\nhealth and (3) continuing the practice of enabling risk managers\nand legislators to take the necessary immediate action in the case\nof a re-emergence of BSE in the EU.
\nFood and feed\nsafety: Members take note of the Commission Report on the\noverall operation of official controls in the Member States in food\nsafety, and call on the Commission to execute efficient monitoring\nof the controls performed by Member States. They express\nconcern about the contamination of food and feed, e. g. with\ndioxin, and call on Member States to enforce and apply existing\nregulations on food and feed controls and risk management very\nstrictly and if needed, to strengthen those rules and ensure\nharmonised implementation by using common guidelines across the\ninternal market. Parliament calls on the Commission and Member\nStates to take measures to ensure that the requirements laid down\nin Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and in implementing Regulation (EU)\nNo 142/2011 relating to the treatment of animal by-products prior\nto their transformation into biogas and the use or disposal of\ndigestion residues are complied with and illegal diversion into the\nfeed chain is prevented. It urges the Commission to monitor the way\nin which the current rules are implemented in the Member States to\nensure a closed circuit for this activity.
\nMechanically separated\nmeat: Parliamentexpresses concern about current EU legislation and\nimplementation in the Member States on mechanically separated meat,\nand calls on Member States to review their implementation of\ndefinitions of mechanically separated meat in line with the\nexisting rules. It wants mandatory labelling of mechanically\nseparated meat in food in order better to inform consumers. Lastly,\nMembers ask the Commission to inform third countries about any\nchanges made to the TSE Regulation and measures related to\nTSEs.
\n