FSA figures on Specified Risk Material

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced further findings of Specified Risk Material (SRM), the part of the animal most likely to contain BSE infectivity, in imported intervention beef. Under European Union law, SRM must be removed immediately after slaughter, stained, and disposed of safely. Spinal cord was found in 11 consignments of intervention beef from Spain and 3 from Germany during the period late January to mid-March 2003. With the exception of Spain, the trend in SRM breaches is now downwards. The Agency has raised the issue of SRM in intervention beef at senior level within the EC. According to the FSA, changes to procedures in German plants have since resulted in a reduction in German SRM import breaches, while urgent discussions are now underway with Spanish officials.