VLA's TSE background

VLA (CVL as it was then) was responsible for the first description of BSE in 1986. Epidemiological studies carried out by VLA identified meat and bone meal as a key component of the epidemic and were pivotal to its early control in the UK.

VLA was responsible for the subsequent description of BSE related TSE in other species, including domestic and big cats, and exotic ungulates.

At VLA an extensive multidisciplinary research programme is addressing the many aspects of both natural and experimental disease in food animal species. This work has underpinned policy on disease control and food safety.

The Agency possesses wide-ranging diagnostic experience through passive surveillance and consultancy, and it has been responsible for the confirmation of BSE index cases in a number of countries.

Since 1991, VLA has been the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Reference Laboratory for scrapie and BSE.

In 2001, the European Commission officially designated VLA as the Community Reference Laboratory (CRL) for TSEs.

VLA provides statistics on the number of TSE cases found through active and passive surveillance. See our statistics pages for further information.