Brussels, 19/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on Friday 16 July, COPA (Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations) and COGECA (General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives) welcome the new TSE (transmissible spongiform encephalopathy) roadmap released by the EU Commission (see EUROPE 10183), and the proposal to gradually lift the minimum age at which cattle must be tested for BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy).
Raising the age at which animals have to be tested for BSE “would greatly reduce the number of tests carried out annually in the EU, which in some member states are paid for entirely by the farmer himself,” said COPA-COGECA Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen. Since testing age has been increased to 48 months (in 2009), costs have already dropped in 17 member states from €14.15 million in 2008 to €9.91 million in 2009, he added.
The two agricultural organisations also welcome the suggestions on re-introducing non-ruminant Processed Animal Protein (PAPs) in non-ruminant feed “avoiding intra species recycling”. “The feed ban for non-ruminants could consequently be lifted,” COPA-COGECA say and they call on the Belgian Presidency “to make urgent progress on this in the coming months”. (L.C./transl.rt)