Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Specified Risk Material Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/2965, as amended) in so far as they apply to Wales. The Specified Risk Material Regulations 1997 apply to the whole of Great Britain.

The purpose of the Regulations is to give effect to Article 3.1 of Commission Decision 2000/418/EC regulating the use of material presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (OJ No. L158, 30.6.2000, p. 76).

The principal amendment brings the definition of “specified risk material” (“deunydd risg penodedig”) in regulation 2(1) of S.I. 1997/2965 into line with the definition of that phrase in Commission Decision 2000/418/EC. A consequential amendment is made to regulation 24(9)(b)(ii) of S.I. 1997/2965, which regulates the disposal of tallow derived from certain specified risk material.

S.I. 1997/2965 is further amended so that whole carcases of sheep, goats and bovines are deemed to be specified risk material if they are removed from the place where they were slaughtered or died to be rendered or incinerated whole.

In consequence of the amendments described in paragraph 4 above, these Regulations revoke regulation 12 of S.I. 1997/2965 (rendering whole carcases).

A regulatory appraisal for these Regulations has been prepared pursuant to section 65 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 and placed in the library of the National Assembly for Wales. Copies may be obtained from the Food Standards Agency, 1st Floor, Southgate House, Cardiff CF10 1EN.