BSE: Disease control & eradication - TSE testing programme
UK TSE testing programme
Since mid 2001, EU Member States have been required to undertake surveillance
for TSEs among specific populations of cattle, sheep and goats. This requirement
is laid down in Commission
Regulation 999/2001 
(311 KB) (as amended).
Cattle testing
Under the UK's TSE active surveillance programme the following categories of cattle are tested for BSE:
- all human consumption cattle aged over 30 months;
- all fallen stock aged over 24 months;
- all emergency slaughter animals or animals found sick at ante mortem inspection aged over 24 months;
- all cattle born between 1 August 1995 and 1 August 1996 entering the OCDS.
Brain samples are taken from all animals and tested using EU approved rapid testing procedures. The programme results are published regularly.
In addition to the above groups, offspring of BSE cases if aged over thirty months and all birth cohorts of BSE cases, are tested when sent for slaughter.
Sheep and goat testing
A programme of testing for scrapie in sheep began in January 2002. This requires 10,000 fallen sheep and 10,000 sheep, aged over eighteen months, destined for human consumption to be tested annually.
SEAC recommended a further survey to assess the prevalence of scrapie
in sheep over eighteen months destined for human consumption. The VLA
tested samples and lymph nodes as well as brain tissue for some sheep
and used different tests on some samples. The results of the first year
of surveillance are summarised in the report
(781 KB) published on September 11th 2003. The report
(87 KB) for the second year is also now available.
Results from BSE testing in cattle and scrapie testing in sheep
Page last modified:
19 December, 2006