IP/01/330
Brussels, 7 March 2001
BSE: Commission proposal to gradually lift
restrictions on export of Portuguese beef backed by
the Standing Veterinary Committee
The Standing Veterinary Committee today voted in favour of a draft
Commission decision proposing a gradual lifting of the ban on Portuguese
beef exports and allowing the resumption of certain exports under the strict
conditions of a Data Based Export Scheme (DBES). Such exports to third
countries and EU Member States of beef and beef products would be
authorised after inspection reports have confirmed the correct
implementation of the Scheme on the ground. Only de-boned meat from
animals, born after 1 July 1999, between 6 and 30 months of age complying
with the conditions of the DBES would be eligible for export. The ban on
exports of live bovine animals from Portugal remains in place. The proposal
will now be formally adopted by the Commission.
"Portugal has taken the necessary action to make it possible to consider re-opening
markets to Portuguese beef in conditions where there is no risk to consumers ",
David Byrne, Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner said explaining today's
draft Decision.
Before the partial lifting of the ban becomes effective a further control mission by the
Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) will be carried out on all aspects of the DBES. The
mission will in particular address the controls on the eligibility of animals, the
supervision of the establishments dedicated to the DBES, the traceability of animals
and meat and the offspring cull which has to be completed before exports may
resume. Once the inspection has shown up satisfactory results, a date will be set for
the resumption of beef exports.
The trade restrictions on Portuguese beef , live cattle and animal feedstuffs were put
in place in 1998 because of the rising incidence of BSE and the insufficient risk
management in place in Portugal. BSE incidence amongst Portuguese cattle is
currently still at 170 per million over the past 12 months, but there have been
substantial improvements in risk management. The Animal Health Code of the
International Office for Epizootics recommends that countries with high BSE
incidence should be allowed to trade in bovine meat and meat products only under
strict conditions.
What is a DBES?
A Data Based Export Scheme is essentially designed to give certainty and security
that the beef products traded are derived from animals that are safe for human
consumption. In practice it puts in place checks to ensure that the fresh meat and
meat products put on the market are from animals born after the effective
implementation of a feed ban and from BSE free dams. The scheme tracks all
records of the lifetime and movements of eligible animals on an official computerised
identification and tracing system. Evidence must be provided that the dam of the
eligible animals has lived for at least 6 months after the birth and has not contracted
BSE. A supplementary condition for the DBES is the slaughtering of all offspring
from dams in which BSE has been confirmed. Farms, slaughterhouses and meat
plants approved under the Scheme are not allowed to handle any animals or meat
not complying with the DBES rules.
Background
In November 1998 the Commission adopted emergency measures restricting
exports from Portugal of live bovine animals and certain bovine products to prevent
the spread of BSE. The measures were amended in July 99, October 99 and
January 2000 to take new developments into account.
A ban on the feeding of mammalian protein, including notably meat-and-bone meal,
to all farmed animals and of mammalian fats to cattle and sheep was introduced in
Portugal in December 1998. An FVO inspection found in June 99 that proper
controls were in place and the feed ban effectively enforced. The national BSE
eradication plan foresees the slaughter and destruction of birth cohorts (animals born
within 12 months in the same herd as a BSE case) and offspring of BSE cases. As of
July 1999 a centralised system for identification and registration of bovine animals
has been in place.
Portuguese authorities first put forward ideas for a DBES in December 1999, which
were further developed in the light of inspections carried out by the Food and
Veterinary Office. The scheme as now proposed would apply to a limited number of
herds which are regularly inspected by Portuguese officials.
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