Brussels, 25/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission decided to authorise the partial resumption of beef exports from Portugal, as of 1 August. This decision logically comes after its decision, in March, to gradually lift export restrictions (see EUROPE of 8 March, p.10). The Commission considers that the results of two inspection missions carried out in May and June this year by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) are conclusive. Only de-boned meat from animals born after 1 July 1999, between 6 and 30 months of age and complying with the conditions of the DBES are eligible for export. The ban on exports of live bovine animals from Portugal remains in place.
We recall that the European embargo on beef, live animals and animal feed from Portugal was established in November 1998 because of the growing incidence of BSE, and inadequate risk management. These measures were modified in July 1999, October 1999 and January 2000 to take developments into account. Although the incidence of BSE in the Portuguese herd, calculated over the past twelve months, is still 160 to 170 cases for every million bovine aged over 24 months (this country being classified in Category IV of the highest risk countries, as is the United Kingdom, and for now has recorded 36 cases for 2001), the Commission considers these risks are less important than in other countries of the EU, because of the computerised identification and traceability mechanism set in place since 1999. Under the DBES system, farms and slaughter houses must certify that the mothers of eligible animals have lived for at least six months after calving and that they have not contracted the epizootic. One of the other conditions is that all the offspring of cows detected as having the BSE prion must be slaughtered.
France may not lift the embargo
Given the opinion of the French food safety agency (AFSSA) of March 2001, it is possible that France will refuse to endorse imports of Portuguese beef. AFSSA recommended that the French government should not support the Commission's proposal for a partial lifting of the ban, because: - the recent epidemiological elements have led the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) to keep Portugal in the category of countries at risk; - there was no element concerning test programmes allowing for better assessment of the epidemiological situation; - the withdrawal of Specified Risk Material (SRM) is very recent (in reality it dates from December 1998); - the system for identifying bovines was not put in place until the middle of 1999 and it is therefore difficult to be able to guarantee effective application of slaughter measures restricted to birth cohorts of detected cases and of their offspring. AFSSA should soon be referred to again to give its views on this imminent resumption of exports, and it is not certain whether, despite a certain evolution in the situation (mainly concerning testing), it will have the information required to ensure adequate risk control in Portugal, as regards protection of public health.