Specified risk materials (SRM) are defined as the animal tissues being most at risk of harbouring the TSE agent. By way of precaution, these tissues must be removed from the food and feed chains to avoid the risk of recycling the TSE agent. They are separately collected at slaughterhouses and disposed of by direct incineration or after pre processing.

The Commission keeps SRM measures under regular review and has requested the opinion of the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) on a number of occasions on the appropriate measures to be taken in relation to TSE risk in cattle and sheep.

The rules for the removal and destruction of SRM are currently set out on a transitional basis in Article 22 and Annex XI. More details on the current list of SRM could be found in Annex XI, Chapter A (1).

These measures also apply to the production and placing on the market of a wide range of animal products.

Annex XI of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001, as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 270/2002.

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