IP/99/479
Brussels, 8 July 1999
Modification of BSE safeguard measures in Portugal
proposed
The European Commission has endorsed a draft proposal to modify the
emergency measures in relation to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
(BSE) in Portugal. Three modifications are proposed : to extend the ban on
the export of bovine products from Portugal until 1 August 2000, to
introduce a set of requirements which would allow Portugal to export meat
and bone meal for incineration and finally to allow the export of fighting
bulls. The indefinite ban on exports of live bovines in general is maintained.
A formal Commission decision will be taken on these modifications after the
Standing Veterinary Committee gives its opinion. While Portugal has made
serious efforts and considerable progress in the implementation of risk
management measures, the Commission considers it necessary to maintain
the export ban because of the high incidence of BSE and the fact that not all
of the risk management measures were adequately enforced.
On the 18 November 1998 the Commission introduced emergency measures
prohibiting the export of bovines and bovine products from Portugal because of the
BSE situation there. The ban on export of bovine products is due to expire on the 1
August 1999. However, the BSE rolling incidence in Portugal has stabilised around
190 - 200, which is clearly above the limit for high incidence countries (100), as
agreed in the OIE General Session in May 1999. Thus the incidence alone justifies a
prolongation of the ban, as the BSE status of other Member States could otherwise
be jeopardised. In addition, shortcomings in relation to the removal of Specified Risk
Materials (SRMs) and absent or inadequate supervision of slaughterhouses have
been reported by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) as a result of missions
carried out in Portugal on 22 February to 3 March and 19 to 22 April this year. The
deficiencies with respect to the supervision of slaughterhouses have the effect that
the removal and destruction of SRMs, the exclusion of suspect BSE cases and highrisk animals (BSE offspring and cohort animals) cannot be officially guaranteed.
These findings further strengthen the need to prolong the ban and it is proposed
therefore to extend it for 12 months until 1 August 2000.
With a view to reducing the risk of propagating BSE through feed, Portugal has taken
measures to prohibit the incorporation of meat and bone meal in any animal feed
and to require destruction of meat and bone meal, to recall and destroy existing
stocks of meat and bone meal and feedingstuffs containing meat and bone meal .
As Portugal does not have the capacity to incinerate these materials on its own
territory, the Portuguese authorities have proposed to export such materials for
incineration. The proposed amendment would allow the dispatch of such material to
other Member States willing to receive it. The dispatch would be subject to a strict
channelling procedure and would only be allowed after the Commission has set a
date based on a favourable assessment and pre-inspection of the control measures
in place in the Member State of destination.
Portugal has requested to amend the Decision with a view to allowing the dispatch of
fighting bulls. As it cannot be excluded that fighting bulls have received possibly
contaminated feedingstuffs in the past, the dispatch of these animals can only be
allowed if it can be ensured that they do not end up in the food or feed chain in the
Member State of destination. The proposed amendment provides for the possibility
for Portugal to dispatch fighting bulls, subject to a pre-authorisation by the Member
State of destination, strict channelling procedure and an inspection of the control
measures in place in the Member State of destination.
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