At the last meeting of Codex Alimentarius, the European Commission faced a proposition from the USA to forbid raw milk cheeses. The debate about a compulsory pasteurisation of cheeses had been postponed until 1999.
On BST, the majority of Codex (38 votes against 21; 12 abstentions) was in favour of the EU proposition to defer the discussion about a limit maximum of residues of this substance until 1999. In this vote the European Commission was supported by the Eastem European countries.
Also, Directives on conception, evaluation and confirmation of systems of inspection and certification for food importations and exportations have been adopted.

At last the decision of the Commission about materials which present risks in regard of ESST has been adopted:
These materials are
-crane with eyes and tonsils, medulla of bovines older than 12 months, and of ovines older than 12 months and the spleen of all sheep and goats
These materials must be incinerated or treated and then buried. Implementation will be compulsory on 1 January 1998.
The Commission took this decision because the Council did not submit an answer on the draft.

The last Newsletter contained a summary of the Communication of the Commission on Consumer Health and Food Safety in which the reorganisation of the scientific committees was announced. The recent decision of the Commission of 23 July sets up the different new committees. Through Commission Decision 94/404/EEC, a scientific director committee was set up which will be responsible for coordination.

WHAT CHANGES?

The Scientific Committee of Medicinal Products and Medical Devices is also responsible for veterinary medicines. The Scientific Veterinary Committee is divided in two: Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare and the Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health. This last committee shares competencies with the Scientific Committee on Food. The committee on toxicity and ecotoxicity has become the Scientific Committee on Toxicity and Ecotoxicity and the Environment. The pesticides committee has become the Scientific Committee on Plants. All these committees will have a maximum of nineteen members, nominated, for a once renewable mandate of three years, through a public procedure. There is an emphasis on the independency of experts.

The role of the committees is to:

1. proceed to a critical examination of risk assessment undertaken by Member State scientists;

2. draw up new procedures of risk assessment;

3. to give scientific advice to the Commission on provision, rules, established in international committees;

4. to proceed to an evaluation of scientific principles for the current EU provisions in regard of international standards.

New Committees:

• Scientific Committee on Food

• Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition

• Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare

• Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to Public-Health

• Scientific Committee on Plants

• Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products intended for Consumers

• Scientific Committee on Medicinal Products and Medical Devices

• Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment

MEETINGS ATTENDED BY FVE REPRESENTATIVES: FULL MINUTES AVAILABLE FROM FVE UPON REQUEST

• Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products meeting: attended by Dr Bro-Jørgensen.

• American Veterinary Medical Association meeting: attended by the Secretary General.

• International Scientific Conference on Meat & Bonemeal: attended by the President and Dr Jannsens

• EUROVET demonstration: attended by Dr Jannsens and H Moore

• SEPLIS: attended by Dr Rondeau and Heather Moore

• The President met Mr Zourek, of DG XV, who informed him that DG XV was not unable to take on the responsibility for the visitation scheme, however, during his meeting with Mr Reichenbach, Dr Simon was encouraged to hear that DG XXIV may well be able to take responsibility for the scheme: Dr Simon would continue to communicate with Mr Reichenbach on this matter.

• Furthermore and equally encouraging, the President also learned that DG III was using the FVE POM and NON-POM lists as official working documents.

The Sectional Presidents joined the Board for their deliberations and the selection of the Executive Director. The meeting also concentrated on:

1. the TAIEX/FVE conference in Budapest on 3/4.12.97;

2. the General Assembly;

3. continuation the FVE membership of SEPLIS;

4. the Draft Council Regulation laying down rules for official checks: Sectional Representatives and Board members were asked to submit comments as soon as possible;

5. a meeting with MEPs from the Agriculture & Consumer committees, arranged by VP Lundström for 16.10.97;

6. the President gave an account of the meetings he had recently undertaken for the FVE, and the Sections gave an account of their recent activities.

Full minutes will be circulated following the meeting on 11.10.97.

SELECTION PROCEDURE FOR EXCUTIVE DIRECTOR
(See Secretary-General's text for full details)

40 applications were received. Five applicants were interviewed b the Board and Sectional Representatives. After lengthy considerations, one candidate offered the post. The Board is awaiting the candidate's reply. If the General Assembly accepts the principle of employing an Executive Director (ED) then the candidate selected by the Board, the ED would commence work at the FVE in January 1998.

TAIEX = technical information exchange office (information brochure available). TAIEX was set up at the beginning of 1996 and its monies emanate from PHARE. The Contact person is Mr Darling formerly of DG VI, who now reports to DG IA and DG XV. He telephoned Heather Moore, expressing an interest in offering 100% funding for a conference, for the Associated Countries, and put forward the idea of holding a conference on the Role of the Official Veterinarian in the Associated Countries*, indicating that Budapest would be appropriate.
Further negotiations between Heather Moore and Mr Darling have taken place and agenda for a meeting has been drawn up. This would include:

• the role & duties of the Official Veterinarian in animal and public health, and animal welfare under EU legislation;

• veterinary qualifications in the EU & ACs;

• current situation of private veterinarians in ACs;

• role of private veterinarians in official duties;

• veterinary medicines;

• self-controlling systems;

• management of state & public veterinary sectors;

• AC veterinary bodies.

The two-day meeting would close with a Roundtable discussion. Full agendas have been sent to the FVE Observer delegations: FVE Member delegations will receive them in due course.

Conceming the organisation:

1. Date: 3/4 December 1997. DG VI & DG XXIV would be involved to a certain extent.

2. TAIEX would cover the expenses of interpretation, room hire, speakers, Associated Country delegates.

4. The conclusions of such a meeting would be important. TAIEX would perhaps produce proceedings of the meeting, in the form of a brochure.

5. The participation of EU delegations was not seen as being necessary, though EU speakers will be invited.

6. The Bulgarian & Rumanian veterinary associations would be invited.

7. TAIEX would invite the state veterinary services of each AC.

*Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria.

UEVP Board Meeting 5-6 July 1997

The first Board meeting of the newly elected Board was held in Copenhagen 5-6 July 1997. The main item was to revise the priority list and allocate the tasks for approval at the next General Assembly meeting. The priorities were listed in accordance with the amount of work to be undertaken by the Board:

1. Eastem European Integration (Borut Zemljic)

2. Manpower (Lars Holsaae)

3. Small Animals (Fred Nind)

4. Lay Persons (Lars Holsaae)

5. Animal Welfare (Fred Nind)

6. Veterinary Training (Franz Josef Jäger)

7. Veterinary Medicines (Otto Bro-Jørgensen)

8. Production Animals (Borut Zemljic & Franz Josef Jäger)

9. Official Veterinarian (Otto Bro-Jørgensen)

10. Horses (Otto Bro-Jørgensen)

FRANCE: VP C Mir

The appellation of the current Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries does not mention food. But Louis Lepensec, the new Minister declared in front of the Directeurs Departementaux des Services Veterinaires, July 10th:

"Certes le mot alimentation a été supprimé dans le titre du Ministere. Cela n'empêchera pas l'alimentation elle-même de rester au coeur de mes préoccupations: la sécurité alimentaire notamment est une de mes priorités.
Même si d'autres (ministères) sont parties prenantes dans les problemes qu'elle soulève, j'entends que les prérogatives de notre Ministère soient consacrées".

Moreover, on 28.8.97, Lionel Jospin, Prime Minster, decided to create two agencies, one for the safety of medical products (medicines, protheses, blood etc) and another for the safety of food. The extent of the prerogatives of these agencies has not yet been decided.

UK RCVS: A Samuelson FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY

The change is Government (from Conservative to Labour) in May 1997 has brought with it many new ideas. One of the most notable, presented during the first week of the new Government, is that of a Food Standards Agency. Professor Philip James, Director of the Rowett Research Institute, was commissioned by the Labour Party to draw up proposals for a Food Standards Agency ensuring the safety of food from "plough to plate".

The intention is to bring all areas related to food safety and nutrition under one agency. Views on the proposals have been sought and draft legislation is expected early next year. Both RCVS and BVA have been keen to highlight the important role played by veterinarians in the field of food safety. The Government's attention has been drawn to the FVE's "Stable to Table" paper and the various EU initiatives.

DEREGULATION

The final report of the Deregulation Working Party entitled "Deregulation: Implications for Animal Welfare, Consumer Protection and the Veterinary Surgeons' Act" was approved by RCVS Council in November 1996. The report took 18 months to complete and all the main bodies and associations within the profession were consulted.

The report assesses the range of pressures facing the veterinary profession from Government, lay persons and the profession itself to "deregulate" certain acts of veterinary surgery. The key part of the report clarifies the definition of an act of veterinary surgery and sets out the criteria which must be met before the deregulation of such acts can be considered and agreed.

RCVS is currently in discussion with Government to introduce new legislation as soon as possible.

Newsletters are published every trimester, under the responsibility of VP Mir.

Delegations are requested to send contributions for the Newsletter to FVE before 31.12.97
(e-mail: fve.heather.figgis@pophost.eunet.be or fax: +537 28 28)

Si tiene cualquier duda o consulta, no dude en contactar con Pulso ediciones, s.a. © 1997-2000.