Date Published: 5 October 2007
FSA response to SCoFCAH vote on reclassification of SRM
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We're not displaying the EU flag in political support of the EU - but to highlight that this news item is an example of changes to regulations applied in the UK being subject to EU scrutiny and approval. There are now so many regulations derived from the EU that most people don't notice the on-going "harmonisation" process.
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Today, Friday 5th October, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) welcomed the unanimous vote on 3 October to raise the age at which bovine vertebral column (VC) is classified as specified risk material (SRM) from 24 months to 30 months. This change restores the VC SRM controls in the UK to the position pre May 2006 when the UK harmonised with EU.
The FSA assures the public that this changes represents negligible risk to consumers.
The vote of the European Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) takes Europe a step closer to enabling trade in bone in carcases and part carcases from cattle up to 30 months of age without the restrictions imposed by VC SRM controls.
Before the necessary changes to the legislation which would permit this trade can be introduced, the proposal will be subject to a three month scrutiny by the European Parliament (EP). If the EP is content the Proposal should come into force in early 2008.
In advance of any change in legislation, it is important that food business operators continue to comply with current SRM and disposal legislation.
The FSA intends to use the three month EP scrutiny period to hold a public consultation on the proposal.
Source: Food Standards Agency (FSA), UK.
