FAQs on changes to the BSE testing age for beef cattle
BfR FAQs, 13. February 2013
In the entire European Union, hardly any cattle now become ill due to BSE. Thus in Germany the last case of BSE was detected in the year 2009. Against the background of this positive epidemiological development, an EU regulation took effect at the turn of the year which will serve to relax the test system. As of January 2013, it is sufficient in 25 member states to test cattle for BSE by means of random samples. From March 2013, BSE tests can be dispensed with completely with cattle that were slaughtered while healthy, but the member states can impose their own regulations.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI) are of the opinion that all healthy cattle slaughtered aged older than eight years (96 months) should continue to be systematically tested in order to record cases of atypical BSE and to recognise a potential new epidemic as early as possible. In Germany, beef cattle over six years of age (72 months) are currently subject to mandatory testing in Germany.
On the occasion of new EU regulations on mandatory BSE testing, the BfR has compiled new FAQs on the subject. These are presented below.