The 2005 report notes the continued decline in the number of BSE cases and the achievement of three key targets:

• Recognition of the British cattle herd’s moderate risk status for BSE,
• A favourable report on Great Britain’s BSE controls from the European Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office, and;
• The replacement of the Over Thirty Month Rule with a robust testing system for cattle born after July 1996 - and their role in securing EU Member States’ unanimous agreement to lift the ten-year ban on British beef exports. The ban was lifted on 3rd May 2006.

The report describes TSE controls last year including animal feed and specified risk material controls as well as the replacement of the Over Thirty Month Rule with a robust testing system. The Report also discusses possible future changes to TSE controls as outlined in the European Commission’s TSE Roadmap.

It also describes the continued progress on TSE controls in sheep and goats, including the National Scrapie Plan and covers Defra’s extensive TSE research programme.

ThePigSite News Desk