In view of the Data-Based Export Scheme (DBES) stipulated in the Commission Decision 98/692/EC and the revised recommendation of the 1999 Office International des Epizooties Animal Health Code on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (OIE Code on BSE), the importation of beef and beef products from the United Kingdom shall be allowed subject to the presentation of an international certificate attesting that:

1.   the meat destined for export has been deboned and contains no tissues listed in the first paragraph of Article 3.2.13.15 (of OIE Code on BSE) nor nervous and lymphatic tissues exposed during a deboning process;

2.   the meat products destined for export are derived from deboned meat and contain tissues listed in the first paragraph of Article 3.2.13.15 nor nervous and lymphatic tissues exposed during a deboning process, nor mechanically separated meat from skull and vertebral column of bovine animals;

3.   a system is in operation enabling the fresh meat and meat products destined for export to be traced back to the establishments from which they are derived;

4.   ante-mortem inspection is carried out on all bovines;

5.   the cattle from which the meat or meat products destined for export originate:

a.      was born and raised in the UK after 1 August 1996 and had remained in herds in which no case of BSE had been confirmed for at least seven years;

b.      is 6 to 30 months old at the time of slaughter;

c.       is not the offspring of a BSE case or suspect BSE case at the time of slaughter;

d.      has been clearly identifiable throughout its life, its date of birth and the identity of its mother is known, all movements are recorded either on a cattle passport or a computerized cattle tracing system; and

e.      its mother has not developed BSE or is not suspected of having BSE and has lived for at least six months after the birth of the animal whose meat is intended for export.

6.         the feeding of ruminants with meat-and-bone meal and greaves derived from ruminants has been banned and the ban has been effectively enforced.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 20 Jan. 2000

(SGD.) EDGARDO J. ANGARA
Secretary