BSE risk materials to be eliminated from food chain from October
The European Commission has adopted a decision aimed at eliminating all specified BSE risk materials from the food chain, which will take effect from 1 October. The decision was made possible following the majority support for the proposal decision of the agricultural council on June 19. Specific risk materials (SRM) will, from October, have to be withdrawn from the food chain through harmonised rules in all member States, with extra measures included for the two countries with the highest BSE risk, the UK and Portugal. In addition, third countries will be invited to submit a dossier concerning the geographical BSE risk in their territory. Unless convincing evidence of a negligible or absent BSE risk is provided, the same SRM removal rules will apply to imports from third countries as of 31 March 2001.