TSE Regulation updated for goat strains resistant to scrapie

Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/887 of 22 March 2024 amending Annexes IV, VIII and IX to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards animal feeding, placing on the market and importation into the Union

Update

The EU has amended its Regulation on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) to take account of scientific evidence that goats with K222, D146, or S146 alleles are genetically resistant to classical scrapie.

Impacted Products

animal by-products, milk products, ruminants, goats

What is changing?

The EU recognises that goats with K222, D146, or S146 alleles are genetically resistant to classical scrapiestrains. This will be reflected in the attestation that must be included in the certificate for exporting to the EU animal by-products containing milk from goats. The certificate in Regulation 142/2011 (Chapter 2(A), p. 201) will be updated.*

This recognition is also reflected in the requirements for imports of goats for breeding, and semen of goats.**

Other changes in Regulation 2024/887 include corrections, updates of references to new legislation, and amendments, that do not apply to exports to the EU.

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* The new Regulation amends Regulation 999/2001 Annex IX, Chapter D, Section B, 3(c).

** The new Regulation amends Regulation 999/2001 Annex IX, Chapter H, 2(a,b), and Chapter E, 5(b), 6(b), respectively.

Why?

Based on the opinion of EFSA (2017), the EU allows the best possible use of genetically resistant animals and their semen to control classical scrapie.

Timeline

Applies from 14 April 2024.

What are the major implications for exporting countries?

Animal by-products from goat milk can originate from a holding where a case of classical scrapie has been confirmed if:

• either all goats have been killed and destroyed or slaughtered, except goats carrying at least one of the K222, D146, or S146 alleles, or
• all animals in which classical scrapie was confirmed have been killed and destroyed, and the holding has intensified its TSE monitoring for at least 2 years since the last classical scrapie case, including testing all animals slaughtered or dead, except goats carrying at least one of the K222, D146, or S146 alleles.

Recommended Actions

For exports to the EU of animal by-products from goat milk originating from a holding where a case of classical scrapie occurred, the obligation to slaughter all the animals or to test all slaughtered or dead animals does not apply to goats carrying at least one of the K222, D146, or S146 alleles.

Background

Following the outbreak in Europe of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, “mad cow disease”) in the 1990s, and outbreaks of other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) such as scrapies in sheep and goats, and chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer, the EU adopted Regulation 999/2001 to protect the health of consumers and animals, and to control and eradicate these diseases. Since 2001, the Regulation has been adapted regularly, taking into account the latest scientific knowledge.

The requirements apply to meat and casings from ruminants, and to animal by-products derived from ruminants, exported to the EU. These requirements are reflected in the official certificates (the “BSE attestation”) that non-EU countries must sign to guarantee that ruminant products comply with these requirements for animal by-products (Regulation 142/2011). For detail on the requirements for meat and casings, see EU official health certificates for exports to the EU – explained.

The level of requirements depends on the risk category of the exporting country. Classifications by country are listed in Decision 2007/453/EC.

Resources

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