Defra statement - Update on BSE offspring cull
002/02
5 February 2002
On 16 January DEFRA instructed its Animal Health Divisional Offices (AHDOs) to check that the passports of all offspring of BSE infected or suspect cattle in Great Britain under restriction had been collected or requested in line with its enforcement regulations (see statement 001/02).
DEFRA also instructed AHDOs to prioritise action on the BSE offspring cull backlog. The backlog arose because of the need to focus resources on combating Foot and Mouth Disease and to avoid farm visits that might have increased the risk of transmitting infection.
A total of 44 passports were outstanding on Monday 21 January, all have now been collected.
As of Monday 21 January there were 659 offspring of BSE infected or suspect cattle under restriction in Great Britain. Some of these will be recent cases. Offspring of confirmed cases will be culled. However, where a suspect case proves as a result of tests not to have BSE (as is currently the case for 35% of suspects) restrictions on offspring will be lifted. The backlog of offspring due to be culled is expected to return to pre-Foot and Mouth Disease levels by 1 April.
When a cow shows symptoms of BSE and a diagnosis of BSE cannot be ruled out without testing the brain, the animal is slaughtered as a suspect and, under the BSE Offspring Slaughter Regulations 1998, restrictions are placed on her offspring (born after 1 August 1996) to prevent them from being sold for human consumption. If BSE is confirmed, the offspring are slaughtered. This is a requirement under the EU Date Based Export Scheme.
Maternal transmission of BSE has not been proven. The culling of offspring
of BSE confirmed cases is not a required precautionary measure in relation
to human health. SEAC has said that the Over Thirty Month rule, the removal
of specified risk material from animals entering the human food chain
and the mammalian meat and bonemeal feed ban provide robust protection
from BSE for domestic human health.
log that has arisen.
Page published: 5 February 2002