The Food Standards Agency and European Commission are facing new calls to scrap what industry claims are now outdated BSE rules which still force the carcases of sheep more than 12 months old to be split and the spinal cord removed.
English beef and lamb levy board Eblex, NFU Scotland and the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers have all questioned the legislation as there has since the rules were imposed 17 years ago been no cases of BSE in sheep.
They say the rules impose extra costs in abattoir and devalue carcases as the splitting process makes them less attractive to buyers.
Eblex chairman John Cross said the rules, imposed immediately after the BSE crisis in 1996, were outdated and no longer fit for purpose. Safeguards should be risk-based and related to current evidence, he added.
Mr Cross added: “Regulation in the food chain is essential for a safe consumer environment. In the past, regulations around BSE and TSEs (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies) more generally, along with specified risk material measures, were science-based and fit for purpose and I think we can all look back and feel reassured that the scientists got it right.
“These safeguards are equally important for other countries interested in importing our products so they understand the level of risk and the control measures we have in place.
“Thankfully, BSE is behind us but we have some legacy pieces of regulation left that are outdated and a hindrance to both trade and our international reputation.”
Mr Cross said customers wanted lamb carcases whole, not split.
He added: “Regulation is essential in the food chain but let’s keep it live, scientifically informed, risk-based and fit for purpose. The current situation needs reviewing.”
NFU Scotland livestock policy manager John Sleigh said it had recently asked the FSA to consider increasing the age at which prime sheep carcases need to be split.
He added: “We feel that the science that requires sheep older than 12 months to be split does not stack up and is a legacy from the BSE era that is seriously outdated. Splitting the carcase immediately devalues the lamb by up to half, involves significant amounts of extra work at processing level and reduces efficiency. The requirement means Scotland misses out on export opportunities as the overseas market often demands whole carcases.”
Mr Sleigh said the union felt that extending the age at which sheep carcases require to be split was wholly justified and could be a first step in removing the frustrating requirement.
SAMW president Alan McNaughton, the president of the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers, said BSE regulations required ongoing review in line with science-based risk assessments.
“The fact that such a united food chain effort continues to be directed towards this issue, highlights the need for changes to be made,” he said.
But the FSA said the last review of specified risk material rules in small ruminants in 2010 did not provide evidence to support any change.
It said it continued to raise with the commission the possibility of a further review of TSE controls in small ruminants. It also said it was quite prepared to consider any alternative removal method for the spinal cord in sheep provided it can be shown to be effective.