Prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE): extension of the period for transitional measures

PURPOSE : to amend Regulation 999/2001/EC and prolong the transitional measures in that regulation by two years. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Regulation 1128/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation 999/2001/EC as regards the extension of the period for transitional measures. CONTENT : to recall, Regulation 999/2001/EC establishes rules for the determination the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) status of a Member State, third country or one of their regions. The Regulation provides that prior to the determination of that status, transitional measures are to be adopted for a maximum period of two years. Commission Regulation 1326/2001 laying down transitional measures to permit the changeover to Regulation 999/2001 applies from 1 July 2001. Therefore the transitional measures apply until 30 June 2003. Certain problems have been encountered in using the criteria laid down in Regulation 999/2001/EC to determine BSE status, with regard to the need to define new categorisation criteria reflecting BSE risk. Scientific risk assessments of all countries have not been fully concluded. The Commission has discussed, with Member States, possible amendments to those criteria in order to produce a better alignment of status and risk. Consequently, Regulation 999/2001/EC is being extended till 1 July 2005. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 18 July 2003.�