BSE controls review: common questions
Your questions answered
1. What are the BSE controls?
There are three main measures introduced to protect public health and the
food chain from BSE. The controls are:
- The removal and safe disposal of what's called Specified Risk Material (SRM), which may carry BSE. Current UK legislation defines SRM as:
- In sheep and goats
- (a) Entire head (excluding tongue and horns) and spleen of all sheep and goats
- (b) Tonsils and spinal cord of sheep and goats which have at least one permanent incisor erupted through the gum or are aged over 12 months
- In cattle
- (a) Entire head (excluding tongue), spinal cord, tonsils and spleen of all animals aged six months or over
- (b) Thymus and intestines of all bovines aged over two months
- (c) Thymus and intestines of bovines aged under two months intended for human consumption
- The Over Thirty Month Rule, under which cattle aged more than 30 months at slaughter are banned from sale for human consumption
- The ban on feeding of mammalian meat and bone meal to any farmed livestock
- In sheep and goats
2. When were the controls introduced?
The SRM regulations have applied at the point of slaughter to cattle since November 1989, and to sheep and goats since September 1996. They have been kept up to date since that time.
The Over Thirty Month Rule was introduced in April 1996.
The initial introduction of a feed ban was in 1988. This was extended in February 1996 banning the feeding of bone meal to any farm livestock. In August 1996 there was a ban on possession of feed containing meat and bone meal.
3. Why were they introduced?
The SRM regulations were to ensure that tissue from the immediate area surrounding an animal’s central nervous system – thought to be the most likely parts to be infected with BSE – does not enter the food chain.
The feed ban was introduced to make sure no possibly infected material went into animal feed.
The Over Thirty Month Rule was introduced to ensure there was no possibility of any material from older animals entering the food chain.
4. Are the controls going to be lifted – if so when?
The controls will only be lifted when the independent experts advising the Government judge that it is safe to do so. Nobody can say when this is likely to be. But this review looks at what needs to happen before lifting the controls is considered.
The SRM controls are to be modified - to bring them into line with an EC Decision covering the whole of the European Union – in three stages, starting on 1 October this year. You can read more about this modification by visiting the news centre and looking up news release number 2000/0034.
The BSE controls review is looking into the effectiveness of existing controls.
5. What caused BSE/CJD?
This is the subject of the separate Phillips Inquiry into BSE, which is due to report later this year.
6. What is the Phillips Inquiry on BSE about?
It is to examine the history of BSE and its human form, vCJD; to try to establish the root cause of both, and to make recommendations for the future. The Phillips Inquiry report is due out after Parliament returns on October 23 2000.
7. When will the FSA publish its review of controls?
Uniquely for a review of this kind, the FSA's first draft is publicly available in time for the first of three consultation meetings on 14 September 2000. You can download your own copy from this website now.
8. How is the FSA consulting on the review?
Two of the FSA's guiding principles are openness and accessibility. We have involved consumers, consumer groups as well as organisations, public interest groups and others with an interest in the BSE controls review by forming a special Stakeholders Group. This group includes organisations representing consumers, farmers, the meat industry, retailers, Government departments, and the medical and scientific community.
The FSA has also built this special website to bring you the review report as well as inform you about BSE and ensure you have a number of opportunities to comment on the BSE controls issue.
In October there will also be a wider consultation meeting in York to ensure we hear the views of organisations, groups and individuals interested in the controls review but not on the stakeholders group.
The general public, the consumers, are welcome to any and all these meetings. If you want to come to one of the meetings go to the news centre and fill in the expression of interest email box.
Be assured, we will be taking proper account of your views.
And when the draft report is changed to take account of the public debate we will update the review on the website. If you register by giving us your address and details we will automatically send you a copy of the new draft as soon as it is posted on the website.
9. How can I have my say on the matter?
We are keen to make this as easy as possible. You can do any of the following:
You can read the review report on this website or have it sent to you by email.
You are welcome to come to consultation meetings – you will have an opportunity to ask questions, hear the debate and comment on the review.
If your friends or colleagues do not have access to the Internet and they want to come to the meetings just tell them to phone the Food Standards Helpline 0845 757 3012 for a printed copy of the report.
All relevant papers have been placed on the website, and printed copies are available from the Agency. This means that anybody can have a say on the matter.