§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review the over thirty months scheme; and if he will make a statement. [62189]
§ Mr. RookerThe Over Thirty Months Scheme is an EU scheme, the rules of which are set by the European Commission. The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee have identified criteria against which the controls on beef over thirty months of age can be reviewed in the future and hope to begin to address this at the meeting planned for March 1999. The Committee recognises that this will require careful study and will almost certainly need to be considered over several meetings. In the light of the Committee's conclusions, and after consultation with all interested parties, the Government will consider what changes to the scheme (if any) could be made consistent with the continued protection of public health and which they might then recommend to the Commission for its consideration.