The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2008

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

1.  These Regulations amend the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (No. 2) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1228, as already amended), which provide for the enforcement in relation to England of Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (OJ No. L147, 31.5.2001, p.1) as amended by and as read with the Community instruments set out in Schedule 1 to S.I. 2006/1228.

2.  The principal amendment is that a revised Schedule 6 is inserted into S.I. 2006/1228 (regulation 2(3)).

3.  Schedule 6 to S.I. 2006/1228 currently provides for the enforcement of the revised text of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 that was inserted into that Regulation by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 722/2007 (OJ No. L164, 26.6.2007, p.7).

4.  Commission Regulation (EC) No. 357/2008 (OJ No. L111, 23.4.2008, p.3) has amended that revised text by substituting for the provision designating vertebral column of bovine animals aged over 24 months at slaughter as specified risk material a provision designating vertebral column of bovine animals aged over 30 months at slaughter as specified risk material.

5.  The revised Schedule 6 inserted into S.I. 2006/1228 by these Regulations provides for the enforcement of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 as now amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 357/2008. Paragraph 20 of Schedule 6 provides for transitional arrangements in relation to the consignment of meat derived from bovine animals slaughtered before the coming into force of these Regulations and aged 30 months or less at slaughter to butcher shops and cutting plants.

6.  These Regulations also—

(a) make consequential amendments to paragraph (1) of regulation 2 (interpretation) of S.I. 2006/1228 in the light of the amendment to the revised text of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 referred to in paragraph 4 above and the revised Schedule 6 to S.I. 2006/1228 referred to in paragraph 5 above (regulation 2(2));

(b) update the wording of paragraph 2 of Schedule 7 to S.I. 2006/1228 to provide for the enforcement of point 10.3 of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 (prohibition on export outside the Community of heads and fresh meat of bovines, ovines and caprines containing specified risk material) (regulation 2(4)); and

(c) revoke the Beef Bones Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/2959), which extend to the whole of Great Britain, in so far as they apply in relation to England (regulation 3).

7.  An impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available from the SRM Branch, TSE Division, of the Food Standards Agency at Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside the instrument on the OPSI website.