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What it is

Penalties for breaking rules on transmissible spongiform diseases

BOE step 7 of 7 · Passed

It is a royal decree-law. It was introduced on 6 April 2001. Introduced by: Gobierno.

Official title: Royal Decree-Law 8/2001, of April 6, establishing the system of infringements and sanctions in matters of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

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Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 130/000017· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. This rule creates a system of infractions and penalties for those who fail to meet obligations to prevent and eradicate transmissible spongiform diseases, both in ruminants and in the feeding and identification of production animals.
  2. Infractions are classified as very serious, serious and minor. Very serious ones include hiding cases of the disease, skipping detection tests or using banned animal proteins in feed. Serious ones include keeping unidentified animals, obstructing inspections or removing risk materials without authorization, and minor ones include small failures to report or cooperate.
  3. The penalties are fines: from €60,001 to €1,200,000 for very serious infractions, from €3,001 to €60,000 for serious ones and from €600 to €3,000 for minor ones. The fine is scaled based on fault, profit gained, animals affected and the harm or danger caused.
  4. For serious or very serious infractions, additional penalties may be imposed, such as confiscating products, temporarily closing the facility or suspending the company's authorization. Provisional measures may also be adopted, such as sealing equipment or vehicles.
  5. Infractions related to transporting animals are penalized under Law 50/1998. When the State has the power to penalize, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food imposes fines for minor and serious infractions, and the Council of Ministers for very serious ones.
  6. Responsibility is administrative and does not rule out other kinds, and the same act cannot be penalized twice. If the infraction may be a crime, the Public Prosecutor is notified and the procedure is suspended. The rule is basic legislation, except for Article 6, and takes effect the day after its publication in the BOE.

Who it affects

  • Livestock farmers and production animal holdings: They must identify and register animals, report births, deaths and suspected disease, and run the required tests.
  • Feed manufacturers and distributors: They cannot use banned animal proteins and must label their products correctly.
  • Those who remove and handle specified risk materials: They need authorization and must follow health and safety conditions.
  • Those who transport or move animals: Their infractions are penalized under Law 50/1998.

Words worth knowing

Encefalopatías espongiformes transmisibles
Diseases affecting the nervous system of animals, such as those behind the mad cow crisis.
Materiales especificados de riesgo
Parts of the animal that can transmit the disease and must be removed, dyed or marked and destroyed.
Trazabilidad
Being able to trace an animal or its meat from its origin to consumption.
Real Decreto-ley
A rule with the rank of law that the Government can pass in cases of extraordinary and urgent need.
Decomiso
A measure by which the authorities seize and hold banned or dangerous products.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 7 of 7 steps. It reached BOE, and today it is passed.

  1. Introduced6 April 2001Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted17 April 2001The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
  3. Amendmentsno dateGroups propose changes.
  4. Committeeno dateA committee goes through the text in detail.
  5. Plenary17 April 2001All 350 deputies vote.
  6. Senateno dateThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
  7. BOEno dateIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 4 official steps on a timeline
Apr 200111. 6 April 2001: Presentación22. 17 April 2001: Calificación33. 17 April 2001: Pleno Convalidación desde 17/04/2001 hasta 26/04/200144. 26 April 2001: Concluido - (Convalidado y tramitado como Proyecto de Ley) desde 26/04/2001 hasta 04/05/2001

Was there a plenary vote?

We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.

What happens next

What happens now?

It is law, or will be once published in the BOE. It comes into force on the date its own text sets.

Published in the BOE: Royal Decree-Law 8/2001, of April 6, establishing the system of infractions and sanctions in matters of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

Sources

Where does all this come from?

  • The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
  • Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
  • We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

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