The Specified Risk Material Amendment (Scotland) Order 2001

Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Specified Risk Material Amendment (Scotland) Order 2001 and shall come into force on 20th August 2001.

(2) This Order shall extend to Scotland only.

Amendments to the Specified Risk Material Order 1997

2.—(1) The Specified Risk Material Order 1997(1) is amended in accordance with the following paragraphs of this article.

(2) In article 2(1) (interpretation)–

(a) in the definition of “specified risk material”(2) at the beginning of sub-paragraph (c), shall be inserted the words “(subject to paragraph (5) below)”; and

(b) the following definition shall be added at the end:–

• ““vertebral column” excludes the vertebrae of the tail and the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae but includes dorsal root ganglia”.

(3) After paragraph (4) of article 2 the following paragraph shall be inserted:–

“(5) Notwithstanding the definition of “specified risk material” in paragraph (1)(c) above, where the carcase of a bovine animal containing vertebral column which is specified bovine material has been imported in accordance with article 6(2A) below, the part of the carcase not comprising the vertebral column shall not be regarded as specified risk material for the purposes of this Order.”.

(4) In article 3(1) (specified sheep or goat material)(3), before the words ““specified sheep or goat material”” there shall be inserted “(subject to paragraph (2) below)”.

(5) After paragraph (1) of article 3 there shall be inserted the following paragraphs:–

“(2) Material derived from a sheep or goat born, continuously reared and slaughtered in any of the countries specified in paragraph (3) below is not specified sheep or goat material as defined by paragraph (1) above.

(3) The countries are–

• Argentina

• Australia

• Botswana

• Brazil

• Chile

• Costa Rica

• Namibia

• New Zealand

• Nicaragua

• Paraguay

• Singapore

• Swaziland

• Uruguay.”.

(6) Article 4 (specified bovine material) is substituted by the following article:–

“4.— (1) In this Order, “specified bovine material” means–

(a) (subject to paragraph (3) below) the intestines from the duodenum to the rectum of a bovine animal, regardless of where it was slaughtered or died or of its age at slaughter or death;

(b) the following material derived from a bovine animal which was slaughtered or died in the United Kingdom or Portugal:–

(i) when it was aged over 6 months–

(aa) the head (excluding the tongue but including the brain, eyes, trigeminal ganglia and tonsils);

(bb) the thymus;

(cc) the spleen;

(dd) the spinal cord; and

(ii) (subject to paragraph (4) below) when it was aged over 12 months, the vertebral column; and

(c) (subject to paragraph (3) below) the following material derived from a bovine animal which was slaughtered or died elsewhere than in the United Kingdom or Portugal when it was aged over 12 months:–

(i) the skull (including the brain and eyes);

(ii) the tonsils;

(iii) the spinal cord; and

(iv) (subject to paragraph (5) below) the vertebral column.

(2) In each of sub–paragraphs (b) and (c) of paragraph (1) above and in paragraph (4) below, the reference to Portugal does not include a reference to the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

(3) Material derived from a bovine animal born, continuously reared and slaughtered in any of the countries specified in article 3(3) above is not specified bovine material as defined by paragraph (1)(a) or (c) above.

(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(b)(ii) above, the vertebral column of a bovine animal born and continuously reared in the United Kingdom or Portugal and slaughtered there when it was aged over 12 months but no more than 30 months shall not be regarded as specified bovine material for the purposes of this Order.

(5) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(c)(iv) above, the vertebral column of a bovine animal born, continuously reared and slaughtered in Austria, Finland or Sweden shall not be regarded as specified bovine material for the purposes of this Order.”.

(7) In article 6 (import of specified risk material)(4)–

(a) the words “Subject to paragraph (2A) below,” shall be inserted at the beginning of paragraph (2); and

(b) after paragraph (2) there shall be inserted the following paragraph:–

“(2A) Paragraph (2) above shall not be taken to prohibit the import into Scotland from outside the British Islands of a carcase of a bovine animal containing any vertebral column which is specified bovine material where–

(a) the carcase is to be transported directly to cutting premises designated in accordance with regulation 15A of the Specified Risk Material Regulations 1997(5) for the removal of the vertebral column there; and

(b) not less than 72 hours before it is intended that the carcase be imported, the person importing the carcase has given notice of the intended import to the director of the Meat Hygiene Service of the Food Standards Agency for the region of that Service in which those premises are situated (or, if there is no such director, the officer of the Food Standards Agency responsible for the exercise of similar functions).”.

(8) In Schedule 2 (form of importation certificate) for the declaration there shall be substituted the following declaration:–

“

”.

SUSAN DEACON

A member of the Scottish Executive

St Andrew’s House,

Edinburgh

14th August 2001