The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 provides the powers to administer and enforce the provisions of the EU Regulations in Northern Ireland.
Since the regulations came into force in 2010, the EU has made a number of amendments to the EU TSE Regulations and reduced controls to reflect the reduced risk posed by BSE. These changes have been applied across the EU and have been implemented administratively in the United Kingdom pending the proposed update to domestic legislation.
A number of minor amendments have also been proposed to clarify and reflect policy, operational and technical changes since the regulations came into operation in 2010.
As part of the consultation, the Department is proposing to cease the payment to TSE Sampling sites for taking the brain stem samples.
There is also a proposal to allow for an independent appeal against the decision taken by the Department regarding non-compliance of the regulations.