BSE: Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many of cases of BSE have there
been in the United Kingdom?
Q2. What is the World Heath Organisation’s
advice on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) and public
health?
Q3. What is the significance of BSE cases born after
July 1996 (known as “Born After the Reinforced feed Ban (BARB) cases)?
Q4. Why are there still cases of BSE appearing in
animals born after 1 August 1996?
Q5. When did the National Fallen Stock Scheme start
operating?
Q6. How long will the subsidy for the removal of
fallen stock under the Scheme last?
Q7. When was the Over Thirty Month (OTM) Rule replaced
by BSE testing?
Q8. When did the Over Thirty Month Scheme (OTMS)
end?
Q9.What happens to animals born before
1 August 1996 which are not destined for the food chain?
Q10. What controls are there to prevent the import
of BSE in live animals and meat products?
Q.1 How many of cases of BSE have there been in the United Kingdom?
A. Up to 1 September 2006, a total of 183,139 cases of BSE had been confirmed in the UK. (See also the statistics section.)
Q.2 What is the World Heath Organisation’s advice on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) and public health?
A. The World Health Organisation has advised on the need for control measures to protect public health from any potential risk from animal TSEs. It has recommended that:
- no part or product of any animal which has shown signs of a TSE (Transmissible
Spongiform Encephalopathy) should enter any food chain (human or animal);
and in particular that:
- all countries should ensure the killing and safe disposal of all parts or products of such animals so that TSE infectivity cannot enter any food chain; and
- all countries should review their rendering procedures to ensure
that they effectively inactivate TSE agents.
Q.3 What is the significance of cases born after 1 August 1996 (known as “Born After the Reinforced feed Ban (BARB) cases)?
A. Additional controls have been in place since 1 August 1996 to prohibit the feeding of MMBM to all farmed livestock, in order to prevent any possibility of it being fed it ruminants. Fewer than 0.1% of BSE cases in UK were born after July 1996. Experts predicted a small number of BARB cases.
In November 2004, Defra commissioned an independent review of BARB cases
by Professor William Hill. The review
(177KB), published in July 2005, concluded that elimination of feed borne
sources of infection is the key to the elimination of BSE, and that Defra's
controls in place to eliminate BSE, are soundly based.
Q.4 Why are there still cases of BSE appearing in animals born after 1 August 1996?
A. In his 2005 review, Professor Hill recommended that Defra continues to operate on the basis that BSE transmission via feed is the major route of infection in BARB cases. Current scientific evidence indicates that as little as 1 milligram of BSE-infected brain tissue is sufficient to infect a calf.
Importation of contaminated feed is a possible source of infection since total feed controls in some parts of Europe were not introduced until 2001 or later. Other sources of feed contamination, including carry-over of feed produced either before the UK or the EU feed bans, cannot be ruled out in some cases.
The probability of maternal transmission is now estimated to be less than or equal to 1% in the last six months of the maternal incubation period. Maternal transmission can be ruled out in the majority of BARB cases. The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee has advised that maternal transmission would not sustain the BSE epidemic in cattle. Further details of BARB cases are available.
Q.5 When did the National Fallen Stock Scheme start operating?
A. Defra, in partnership with industry, through the National Fallen Stock Company Ltd, is aiming to assist farmers and horse owners with the requirement to comply with the "Animal By Products Regulation" (Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002), which prevents on-farm or otherwise burial of fallen stock, by providing a National Fallen Stock Scheme which offers a reliable, low cost means of disposal. The Scheme has been open to all farmers, horse owners, businesses and establishments for business since 22 November 2004.
Q.6 How long will the subsidy for the removal of fallen stock under the Scheme last?
A. The Government has always said that it expects the Scheme to be run by the livestock industry but is willing to assist with getting the Scheme off the ground and providing funding for that purpose. Therefore, the not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, that has been set up to run the Scheme will initially be owned by Defra and the Devolved Administrations.
The Government is providing a digressive subsidy to the Scheme over 3 years after which it is envisaged that the Scheme will be wholly financed and run by industry. For as long as the Government is contributing to the Scheme it will want to have its say about the way the Scheme is run and will be represented on the Board.
As well as taking a leading role in making the arrangements for launching the Scheme, Defra provides government representation on the Board of the Company which makes key decisions about the Scheme on issues such as subscription rates, rates of payments to contractors and biosecurity conditions for the Scheme.
The Scheme is a unique joint venture which builds on the partnership approach at the heart of Defra's new animal health and welfare strategy.
Q.7 When was the Over Thirty Month (OTM) Rule replaced by BSE testing?
A. The OTM rule was replaced by BSE testing of OTM cattle born after July 1996 on 7 November 2005. Cattle born or reared in the UK before August 1996 remain permanently excluded from the food and feed chain.
Q.8 When did the Over Thirty Month Scheme (OTMS) end?
A. The OTMS Scheme ceased operation on 22 January 2006. It has been replaced by the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme for cattle born before 1 August 1996.
Q.9 What happens to animals born before 1 August 1996 which are not destined for the food chain?
A. These animals are slaughtered under the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme (OCDS). Further details available.
Q.10 What controls are there to prevent the import of BSE in live animals and meat products?
A. The import of live animals and meat into the UK is controlled by EU legislation which sets a range of animal and public health conditions to protect consumers and animals in Europe from diseases. In particular animals from countries inside the EU must meet strict feed rules, disease control and animal identification rules. Animal products from outside the EU must meet strict controls on disease control and exporters must provide assurances that “SRM” or specific risk material is not present in the consignment. For further information on import controls of live animals and meat please visit the International Trade website.
For further useful questions and answers, please see our General BSE Q&A.
Page last modified:
19 June, 2007
Page last reviewed:
10 August, 2006