These Regulations, which apply to Scotland only, give effect to Article 3.1 of Commission Decision 2000/418/EC regarding the use of material presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and amending Decision 94/474/EC (O.J. L 158, 30.6.2000, p.76) by amending the Specified Risk Material Order 1997 (S.I. 1997/2964) (“the Order”). The Order applies to the whole of Great Britain.

The principal amendment is to bring the definition of ‘specified risk material’ (SRM) in article 2(1) of the Order into line with the definition of the same phrase in Commission Decision 2000/418/EC.

The Order is further amended by replacing the provisions of Article 6 relating to imports into Scotland from outside the British Islands (regulation 12(5)). This extends the categories of premises to which SRM must be sent if it is imported and requires food and feedingstuffs containing SRM to be accompanied by a certificate when they are imported from a third country.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment in relation to these Regulations has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and copies can be obtained from the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department, Room 358d, Pentland House, Robb’s Loan, Edinburgh EH14 1TY.