—controlled expression of genes coding for biologically active proteins in prokaryotes and eukaryotes including transformed mammalian cells,

- controlled expression of genes coding for biologically active proteins in prokaryotes and eukaryotes including transformed mammalian cells,

(11) Whereas, in order to protect animal and human health in the Community, the Commission adopted Decision 94/381/EC of 27 June 1994 concerning certain protection measures with regard to bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the feeding of mammalian derived protein (9), as amended by Decision 95/60/EC (10), which prohibited the feeding of mammalian protein to ruminants throughout the Community, Decision 96/449/EC of 18 July 1996 on the approval of alternative heat treatment systems for processing animal waste with a view to the inactivation of spongiform encephalopathy agents (11), which lays down the best available method for processing ...[+++] animal waste as regards spongiform encephalopathy agents, and Decision 97/735/EC of 21 October 1997 concerning certain protection measures with regard to trade in certain types of mammalian animal waste (12);

- There was only a belated reaction as regards regulation, since until July 1994 there was no ban on the use of mammal proteins in feedingstuffs for ruminants (this had already been banned in the UK in 1989): according to the Commission, until this date the final results of the first phase of the study on the deactivation of TSE agents in animal meal manufacturing processes were not available.

(a) the production techniques used for making feedingstuffs did not include sterilization and inactivation of the BSE or scrapie agents, and failed to prevent cross-contamination with mammal-derived proteins of all types of meal intended for livestock (the latter, although outlawed for ruminants, were still being used in the production of feedingstuffs for other animal species);

One cannot, however, accept Mr Meldrum's argument that the UK should therefore be exonerated from all responsibility (he claims that the UK government had written to the relevant Member State and third-country authorities, informing them of its BSE problem and urging them to ban the feeding of mammal protein to ruminants).