WORLD TRADE G/SPS/GN/8
5November 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4668)
Original: English Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY
Statement made bytheEuropean Community
atthemeeting of8-9October 1996
Atthemeetingon29-30May,theEuropeanCommunitymadeastatementonBovineSpongiform
Encephalopathy. TheCommunity would liketotakethisopportunity toprovide some information
onrecent developments.
InJuly,theCommissionadoptedDecision96/449/EConalternativeheattreatmentforprocessing
animal waste withaviewtotheinactivation ofspongiform encephalopathy agents. ThisDecision has
beennotified asG/SPS/N/EEC/30 of22July1996.
Thenewheattreatment provisions willapply from1April 1997. However, 90daysafterthe
Decision, Member States arerequired totakethenecessary measures toensure thatmaterial produced
withamethod which doesnotmeetthespecified parameters isusedinawaywhich avoids therisk
oftransmitting BSEand/or scrapie.
ThestandardsetbyDecision96/449willaffectimportsfromthirdcountriesofproductsincluding
orderived from animal waste.
Further measures arebeing studied bytheCommunity, andtheScientific Veterinary Committee
andtheMultidisciplinary Committee havebeenconsulted.
IftheCommunity decides totakefurther measures, these arelikely tohaveanimpact onthird
countries. TheCommunity would, ofcourse, notify anysuchmeasures inaccordance withtheSPS
Agreement.