Explanatory note

These Regulations revoke and remake with amendments the Bovine Products (Despatch to other Member States) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996, as amended.

Those Regulations implemented in part Commission Decision 96/239/EC on emergency measures to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy, as amended by Commission Decision 96/362/EC, in relation to the despatch to other member States of meat and other products from bovine animals slaughtered outside the United Kingdom.

They made provision for the Department to charge fees and contained provisions on enforcement, obstruction, offences and penalties.

These Regulations additionally make provision controlling the production from bovine animals of gelatin, tallow and related products (regulation 3), and concerning the export and use of such products (regulation 5).

They regulate the consignment of material containing bovine vertebral column to establishments approved under the Regulations (regulation 4).