In Brief: EU risk materials
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
EU risk materials: Standing Veterinary Committee (DG 6) fails to vote on proposals derogating cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices from the European Union ban on use of all transmissible spongiform encephalopathies specified risk materials (SRM) set to take effect Jan. 1. The committee met Dec. 8-9 to discuss a series of proposals amending the ban, which is intended to protect the EU from exposure to TSE contaminated animals and animal products, such as cattle with "mad cow" disease ("The Rose Sheet" Dec. 8, p. 10). According to the European Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association, the committee could not muster enough votes to get a derogation passed. A decision was reached between DG 6 and the Scientific Steering Committee of the European Community on the definition on SRM; the term "embraces" three concepts -- the species, age and specific organs of an animal...