Brussels, 24/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the Scientific Steering Committee published a series of opinions relating to measures to combat the risk of BSE spreading. The measures concern: - the risks relating to culling methods used in Germany and the United Kingdom during an outbreak of BSE (these countries do not systematically resort to cohort culling -destruction of animals of the same age originating from the same herd); - risks relating to the penetrative stunning method at slaughter consisting of driving a rod into the animal's brain-pan before slaughter; - updating of the list of high risk material from the head of cattle, sheep and goats; - and the adjustment of the list of countries (Finland, Austria and Slovenia in particular) where the risk of BSE has been recently discovered.
- Methods other than cohort culling: The SSC was invited to determine whether certain measures implemented in the United Kingdom and in Germany may be considered as equivalent to cohort culling, as recommended by European scientists, and more recently by the AFSSA (Agence française de sécurité sanitaire et alimentaire). The SSC noted that measures in force in the United Kingdom offer the same security as cohort culling, provided that they are correctly carried out. The slaughter programme for cattle aged over 30 months, the ban on using mammal meat and bone meal in feed for ruminants, and the withdrawal of specified risk material (SRM) from the food chain are all measures that would allow the United Kingdom not to resort to this method of culling.
On the other hand, scientists are more critical of the German request for a derogation from the culling approach as spelled out in the TSE regulation (the birth and rearing cohort has to be culled). Germany requested to have a case by case approach which would allow in certain cases to cull only the birth cohort. Scientists however conclude that the culling of the full cohort would add additional safety for consumers. They recommend that this approach be maintained.
- Penetrative stunning: The SSC recognises that the use of stunning methods by penetration may displace brain material into the bloodstream. It does not, however, categorically state what should be done (whether this method should be banned or not). "The available evidence is still scarce, not always univocal and therefore needs to be completed", writes the Commission.
- Specific risk material: The SSC updated its opinion concerning the safety of material from the head of the animal, but does not give further indications. Bovine cheek material can be safely used, but the brain, eyes, tonsils, etc. should be withdrawn from the food chain. This opinion is already included in the legal provisions on removal of SRM. The SSC also points out that the head of sheep and goats of all ages should be entirely removed from the food chain if the presence of BSE in small ruminants is proved probable (for the time being this is not the case).
- Geographical risk: For now, the presence of other TSE, apart from scrapie, in a country should not affect its GBR (Geographical BSE risk) assessment, said the SSC. Furthermore, the list of countries classified depending on the Geographical BSE risk has been reviewed and corrected to take the first confirmed cases of BSE into account in countries which, until just a short while ago, were declared risk-free. Such is the case for Austria, Finland and Slovenia, now in Category III (a confirmed low level of BSE) and also Greece and Japan. These scientific opinions may be consulted at the following address: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/ ssc/outcome_en.html.
