The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2025
The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2025, effective April 1st, 2025, amend Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 by eliminating the requirement for intensified two-year monitoring of holdings with confirmed atypical scrapie cases in sheep or goats in England.
These changes were made following appropriate advice on public health implications and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Arguments For
Reduced administrative burden: The removal of the intensified monitoring requirement reduces the workload for farmers and regulatory bodies.
Cost savings: Eliminating the monitoring reduces costs associated with surveillance and testing.
Alignment with scientific evidence: The change may reflect a reassessment of the risk posed by atypical scrapie, based on new scientific findings.
Streamlined regulatory framework: Simplifying regulations can lead to greater efficiency and clarity in the agricultural sector.
Arguments Against
Potential increased risk: Removing the monitoring might increase the risk of the spread of atypical scrapie if undetected cases occur.
Data loss: The cessation of monitoring could lead to a loss of valuable epidemiological data for assessing the prevalence and control of scrapie.
Lack of transparency or justification: Concerns might arise if sufficient justification or transparency for changing the monitoring procedures is inadequate.
International implications: The adjustment in monitoring might affect the UK's compliance with international standards for disease control.
- Citation, commencement, extent and application (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2025. (2) These Regulations come into force on 1st April 2025. (3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, but apply in England only.
This section provides the citation, effective date, and geographical scope of the regulations.
The regulations are titled the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2025 and will take effect on April 1st, 2025.
They apply only to England despite extending to both England and Wales.
- Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (1) Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is amended as follows. (2) In Annex 7, Chapter B (measures following confirmation of the presence of a TSE in bovine, ovine and caprine animals)– (a) omit point 2.2.3; (b) in point 3.5(d), omit the words from “If” to the end; (c) in point 4.6, omit the words from “If” to the end.
This section details the specific amendments made to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001.
The regulation concerning the prevention, control, and eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is altered.
Specifically, point 2.2.3 is removed from Annex 7, Chapter B, along with phrases from the end of points 3.5(d) and 4.6 within the same Annex.
EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations.) These Regulations amend assimilated Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (EUR 2001/999), so as to remove a requirement for intensified monitoring, for two years from the date of the detection of the last atypical scrapie case, of holdings where an atypical scrapie case in sheep or goats has been confirmed. Regulation 2 removes three linked provisions from Annex 7 to that Regulation, which imposed that monitoring requirement. These Regulations apply in England only. A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or community bodies is foreseen.
The explanatory note summarizes the regulations' purpose—to remove a requirement for intensified monitoring of atypical scrapie cases in sheep and goats for two years following the detection of a cases.
It clarifies that this change is achieved by removing three provisions from Annex 7 of Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001.
The note also emphasizes the regulations' application to England only and states that a full impact assessment was deemed unnecessary due to the lack of significant impact on various community bodies.
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