Protection measures against foot and mouth disease in the UK
A further amendment to Commission Decision 2007/554/EC was agreed by the Standing Committee of Food Chain and Animal Health ( SCoFCAH ) held today. The new decision will allow exports of fresh meat, minced meat or meat preparations from cattle, sheep, goats and pigs to other Member States from Scotland, Wales, the south-west and northern counties of England. There are other implications for the intra-Community trade of fresh meat and medical devices once this amendment comes into force.
Customer Information Note (GEN 07/284) provided details of an earlier proposed amendment to Commission Decision 2007/554/EC concerning intra-Community trade of live animals, genetic material and other animal products which has still yet to be published.
When both sets of amendments are published by the Commission, a further Customer Information Note will be issued to inform you of the date from which these new amendments will come into force.
Until the new amendments come into force, live biungulates, their genetic material and their products can only be exported from Great Britain if they comply with the current restrictions laid down under Commission Decision 2007/554/EC as amended by Commission Decision 2007/608/EC of 13 September 2007.
Background
Commission Decision 2007/554 of 09 August 2007 (the Decision) applies certain restrictions to exports from Great Britain of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, deer, llamas and other related animals (biungulates) as well as their products.
Export of live biungulates to EU Member States
No change - the prohibition on the export of live biungulates from Great Britain to other EU Member States will continue to apply when the new amendments to the Decision come into force. Customer Information Note GEN 07/298 provides details of domestic movements and trade in live ruminants following the introduction of a Bluetongue Protection Zone.
Export of Germplasm of biungulate origin to EU Member States
The latest amendment to the Decision voted on 3 October provides no further amendment to conditions for trade in germplasm. Customer Information Note (GEN 07/284) provided details of some proposed amendments which have yet to be published. Customer Information Note GEN 07/298 provides details of domestic movements and trade in live ruminant germplasm following the introduction of a Bluetongue Protection Zone.
Export of fresh meat
The latest amendment to the Decision voted on 3 October allows exports of fresh meat, minced meat or meat preparations from cattle, sheep, goats and pigs to other Member States from Scotland, Wales, the south-west and northern counties of England. Export health certification will be needed to demonstrate that the meat is derived from animals originating from these areas. There are certain other requirements that have to be met, such as a 90-day residency period in the 'free' counties, and compliance with a 30 day residency/21 day standstill on a single holding prior to slaughter. We will look closely at the detail of the Decision as soon as it is published and will advise on its conditions.
We expect the new Decision to be formally adopted by the Commission and come into force on 12 October. We will implement it in England, Scotland and Wales via amendments to our domestic legislation.
Export of meat products, dairy products, hides and skins and other products of slaughtered biungulates to EU Member States
The latest amendment to the Decision voted on 3 October proposes that certain medical devices containing animal tissue that are currently caught by the prohibition on export, but are subject to treatments that render them non viable and incapable of disease transmission, should be included in the derogation from the export ban (as for other medical products). Customer Information Note (GEN 07/284) provided details of earlier proposed amendments which have yet to be published.
