Brussels, 07/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - On a proposal from the European Commission, the Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC) approved with a qualified majority, Wednesday evening, the principal of lifting the ban measures affecting, since 18 November 1998, live animal exports of the bovine species from Portugal. After a last inspection mission by the veterinary food office, the Commission will set an official date for the lifting of this embargo that could take place before next 1 June.
The decision proposal examined yesterday by the SVC foresees the creation of a date based export system as that which it has enforced on the United Kingdom, since November 1998. Thus, this system should only apply to meat off the bone and by-products from animals born after the enforcing of the Portuguese embargo, and includes provisions on the destruction of bovines potentially contaminated by BSE and the traceability of meats. France and Austria voted against this text, while Germany abstained. EUROPE will return to this decision, tomorrow, in more detail.