The spinal cord has been designated as a specified risk material (SRM) for a long time and has been removed in many Member States as such for a long time; it has been removed now as a matter of law in the European Union by all Member States since 1 October 2000.
Selkäydin nimettiin erikseen määritellyksi riskiainekseksi jo kauan sitten, ja se on siksi poistettu eläimiltä useissa jäsenvaltioissa jo pitkään: sen poistaminen tuli lain nojalla pakolliseksi Euroopan unionin kaikissa jäsenvaltioissa 1. lokakuuta 2000.