Consultation on proposed changes to BSE Testing
Defra, Welsh Assembly Government and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have today launched a joint consultation on proposals to change the minimum age at which cattle are tested for BSE.
Under these proposals, the minimum age for BSE testing cattle slaughtered for human consumption and fallen stock would rise to 48 months and the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (England) Regulations 2008 and the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (Wales) Regulations 2006 would be amended to administer this change. The FSA Board and Health Ministers must agree to raise the age above which all cattle slaughtered for human consumption must be BSE tested, to 48 months, before this change can be implemented in the UK.
Comments are invited on any aspect of the proposals. The consultation package includes:
- Consultation letter
- List of consultees
- Consultation document (PDF 113 KB)
- Summary of SEAC Meeting on 15 October 2008 (PDF 49 KB - Link to the SEAC website)
- Paper for FSA Board on 15 October 2008 (PDF 46 KB - Link to FSA website)
A specific Impact Assessment (IA) has not been prepared for this consultation but the IA for the 2007 Responsibility and Cost Sharing consultation will be updated to reflect the proposed increase in the testing ages for cattle. It will be placed online in a few days’ time.
Responses should be received by 3 December 2008. We apologise for the short consultation period but this is necessary to meet the EU’s expected timetable and allow the possibility of applying these proposals from 1 January 2009. This consultation has received Ministerial clearance to proceed over a reduced time period in order to meet the EU’s expected timetable and allow the possibility of applying these proposals from 1 January 2009.
Page published: 31 October 2008