What is being done to tackle the risk of BSE cases entering the food chain?
All bovine animals over 30 months of age entering the food chain must be tested for BSE and the carcass may not be released before a negative test results has been obtained. Austria, Finland and Sweden may derogate from the requirement to test healthy cattle pursuant to a scientific assessment showing that the BSE risk in those Member States is lower. specified risk materials (SRMs) are removed at slaughter from all cattle aged over 12 months and destroyed. This reduces the level of potential exposure from animals which might be in the early stages of the disease to an extremely low level. Annex: BSE testing – Cumulative table from January – February 2001 Suspects: Cattle which are identified as suspect case through passive surveillance. Risk Animals : Cattle which die on a farm, are slaughtered in an emergency or are sent for normal slaughter but are found sick in the pre-slaughter inspection. Healthy Animals : Cattle sent for normal slaughter. BSE Eradication : Cattle which are kille
