FSA Scotland Welcomes EC Vote on Vertebral Column

Friday 5 October 2007

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) welcomes the unanimous vote on 3 October to raise the age at which bovine vertebral column (VC) is classified as specified risk material (SRM) from 24 months to 30 months. This change restores the VC SRM controls in the UK to the position pre May 2006 when the UK harmonised with EU. The proposal represents negligible risk to consumers.

The vote of the European Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) takes Europe a step closer to enabling trade in bone in carcases and part carcases from cattle up to 30 months of age without the restrictions imposed by VC SRM controls.

Before the necessary changes to the legislation which would permit this trade can be introduced, the proposal will be subject to a three month scrutiny by the European Parliament (EP). If the EP is content the Proposal should come into force in early 2008.

Director of the Food Standards Agency Scotland, Dr George Paterson, said: 'The Agency very much welcomes this news from the European Commission. However, it is important that food business operators continue to comply with the current regulations on vertebral column removal and disposal during the scrutiny period by the European Parliament, until the new regulations come into force.'

The FSA intends to use the three month EP scrutiny period to hold a public consultation on the proposal as is routine for new regulations.