26. 6. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 151/39 COMMISSION DECISION of 24 June 1996 approving the plan for the control and eradication of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the United Kingdom (Text with EEA relevance) (96/385/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market (), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC (3, and in particular Article 10 (4) thereof, Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra- Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market (}), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC, and in particular Article 9 (4) thereof, Whereas according to the second subparagraph of Article 9 (1) of Directive 89/662/EEC and the second subpara- graph of Article 10 (1) of Directive 90/425/EEC, the Member State of origin shall implement on its territory the appropriate measures to prevent all situations which may constitute a serious hazard to animals or to human health; Whereas in 1988 the United Kingdom introduced a requirement for animals affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to be completely destroyed, and prohibited the feeding of feed of ruminant origin to rumi- nants; Whereas in March 1996 the United Kingdom reinforced the feed ban by banning all use of mammalian meat- and-bone meal for feeding of farm animals and banning the use of cattle over the age of 30 months of age for food, feed, cosmetic or pharmaceutical purposes; Whereas, to protect animal and human health in the Community, the Commission adopted Decision 94/474/EC of 27 July 1994 concerning certain protection measures relating to bovine spongiform encephalopathy and repealing Decisions 89/469/EEC and 90/200/EEC (¥, as last amended by Decision 95/287/EC (%), Decision () OJ No L 224, 18. 8. 1990, p. 29. () OJ No L 62, 15. 3. 1993, p. 49. () O] No L 395, 30. 12. 1989, p. 13. () OJ No L 194, 29. 7. 1994, p. 96. () O No L 181, 1. 8. 1995, p. 40. 92/290/EEC of 14 May 1992 concerning certain protec- tion measures relating to bovine embryos in respect of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United Kingdom (%), as amended by Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, Decision 94/381/EC of 27 June 1994 concerning certain protection measures with regard to bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the feeding of mammalian derived protein (), as amended by Decision 95/60/EC (¥), Decision 94/382/EC of 27 June 1994 on the approval of alternative heat treatment systems for proces- sing animal waste of ruminant origin, with a view to the inactivation of spongiform encephalopathy agents (%), as amended by Decision 95/29/EC(%), and Decision 96/239/EC of 27 March 1996 on emergency measures to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy ('), as amended by Decision 96/362/EC ('?); Whereas, at the request of Community bodies, the United Kingdom presented a plan to the Commission on 3 June 1996 laying down supplementary measures to control and eradicate BSE in the United Kingdom, hereafter referred to as ‘the plan’; Whereas the principal elements for the plan are: (a) a selective compulsory slaughter of animals and/or herds in birth cohorts born in 1990/91, 1991/92 and 1992/93 which have been identified as being most likely to have been exposed to infected meat-and- bone meal; (b) an improved system of individual identification of bovine animals to ensure effective control of move- ments and traceability of animals (animal passport system); (¢) an intensified control of the feed manufacturing industry to prevent the possible use of meat-and-bone meal; (d) a detailed study carried out by a veterinarian on each farm where exposed birth cohorts have been found, in order to ensure that all the animals which must be () OJ No L 152, 4. 6. 1992, p. 37. () OJ No L 172, 7. 7. 1994, p. 23. () OJ No L 55, 11. 3. 1995, p. 43. () OJ No L 172, 7. 7. 1994, p. 25. (%) OJ No L 38, 18. 2. 1995, p. 17. (") O] No L 78, 28. 3. 1996, p. 47. (%) OJ No L 139, 12. 6. 1996, p. 17.