Press Release: BSE: Commission working paper proposing to prolong MBM-ban

The European Commission has submitted to Member States a working paper on the future strategy on the use of meat-and-bone meal (MBM) in Europe which will form the basis of a discussion at the Agriculture Council at the end of April 2001 in Luxembourg. Based on the results of a series of inspection visits by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) to Member States it is considered premature to lift the temporary ban which will expire at the end of June 2001. Therefore, the Commission suggests keeping the ban in place until the adoption of the proposed legislation on animal by-products which is anticipated by early 2002. This proposal will establish rules for the production of feed ingredients of animal origin exclusively from animals fit for human consumption. The existing 1994 prohibition on feeding MBM to ruminants remains in force. A formal legislative text from the Commission will be proposed in the near future.