Ministers announce change to BSE control
Wednesday 1 December 2004
Ministers today announced the start of a managed transition towards the lifting of the Over Thirty Months (OTM) Rule. This is the BSE control set up in 1996 that automatically bans older cattle from entering the human food chain. It will be replaced by a robust testing system of cattle for BSE.
In July 2004 the Food Standards Agency advised that the current control measures are no longer proportionate to the risk.
The primary BSE control, the removal of Specified Risk Material (SRM), which removes more than 99% of any infectivity that may be present, will remain in place.
Food Standards Agency Chair Sir John Krebs said: 'The FSA commissioned the best available scientific advice on BSE risks. We have also consulted widely and examined the evidence, acknowledging the uncertainties, in an open and transparent way.
'The FSA has advised that replacing the OTM rule with BSE testing is proportionate because of the very low risk to consumers and the effectiveness of other controls. Ministers have now accepted that advice.
'However this is still subject to there being a robust BSE testing system in place for cattle born on or after 1 August 1996, and the Agency has set up an independent group to advise on this.
'It will also be important to engage stakeholders in the work of this independent group. Once its work is done, the Agency will advise ministers on the robustness of the testing system.'