New BSE information for consumers
November 2, 2005
Food Standards Agency
http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2005/nov/newbseinfo
The Food Standards Agency has today issued publications for consumers providing updated information on BSE and explaining new UK-wide BSE testing controls that are due to come into force next week.
The new BSE testing controls replace a blanket ban on cattle aged over thirty months entering the food chain.
The booklet, 'BSE & Beef: New Controls Explained', describes the new framework of BSE controls that will apply to older cattle. A smaller leaflet, which summarises the changes and key information, is also available and is being offered to all major retailers and butchersí associations to make it available to their customers.
The move to testing older cattle has come about as a result of the effectiveness of BSE control measures, which have resulted in a steep decline in BSE in the UK.
From 1996 until this month, a blanket ban has been in place in the UK on cattle aged over thirty months entering the food chain. This is because no cases of BSE have been found in the UK in cattle younger than thirty months since 1996.
The Government recently decided that this over thirty months ban could be replaced by BSE testing of these older animals born after July 1996.
Cattle born before August 1996 ñ when a reinforced ban was introduced on animal feed containing meat-and bone-meal ñ will continue to be permanently excluded from the food chain. This feed is thought to have been responsible for the spread of BSE among cattle.
The main public health protection measure against BSE, the Specified Risk Material control, will remain in place. This removes almost all of the risk (over 99%) if an animal were infected with BSE.
The booklet and leaflet can be downloaded from the links below. Copies can be obtained by contacting FSA Publications on 0845 606 0667 or emailing foodstandards@eclogistics.uk.com
BSE and Beef: A Brief Guide to New Controls
Read the leaflet published by the FSA (pdf 136kb)
http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/bsenewleaflet.pdf
BSE and Beef: New Controls Explained
Read the booklet published by the FSA (pdf 427kb)
http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/bsebooklet.pdf
