Brussels, 04/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - Contrary to its standing opinion of 1998, the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) recognised on Wednesday that tallow from cattle could present a BSE risk if used in cattle feed. The experts believe the tallow derived from tissues other than standard meat fat could present a BSE risk if used in cattle feed without measures such as the removal of Specified Risk Material (SRM) and filtration and, for certain tissues, heat treatment. The SSC adopted two other opinions on:
Discrete fatty tissues directly associated with cattle's intestine tract which should be considered a potential BSE risk material if a BSE risk cannot be excluded in the animal. The omentum of cattle (the upper layer of belly fat) is considered safe for use in feed, food and other applications provided contamination with SRMs can be excluded.
Gelatine. The SSC updated its standing opinion of January 2000 on the safety of gelatine, including a finding that two newly validated processes for the production of gelatine are at least equally safe as those already authorised. The SSC lists for each different use of gelatine (food, feed, pharmaceutical and industrial uses), the safety requirements in terms of SRM removal, sourcing of materials, etc.