ARCHIVE: BSE: Publications

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Publications on BSE in cattle

Report on current and future surveillance for bovine spongiform encephalopathy - This report (100KB), which was published on 17 November 2008, was produced at the request of the Food Standards Agency and addresses both risk assessment and risk management for current and future BSE surveillance.

BSE: Monthly report on measures taken by the UK - Reports on the application of the protective measures taken against BSE in accordance with national and European Community provisions, prepared and submitted to the European Commission in accordance with Article 15 of Council Decision 98/256. On 2 May 2006, Regulation (EC) No.657/2006 came into force, repealing Council Decision 98/256/EC. This removed the requirement for the UK to provide monthly reports of its BSE control measures, to the European Commission. The final report submitted was for April 2005. Copies of monthly reports are available upon request: webmaster@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

BSE: Statistics

BSE statistics for active surveillance in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and for passive surveillance, are available.

BSE Advisory notes for farmers

The BSE Advisory Notes for Farmers (1.1MB) were revised and updated in May 2009. Copies are being circulated to cattle keepers in Great Britain by the British Cattle Movement Service. A Welsh language version (1.1MB) is also available.

End of free collection and disposal service for fallen cattle aged over 24 months

This service ended in January 2009. Full details are given in this leaflet (165 KB). Welsh language version (165 KB).

BSE testing requirements for cattle imported into the United Kingdom

A leaflet (PDF) been published which sets out the BSE testing requirements for cattle imported into the United Kingdom. A Welsh language version (PDF) is also available.

Other online publications on BSE

BSE Enforcement Bulletin - Published from August 1996 until January 2002. The monthly BSE Enforcement Bulletin described the ongoing rigorous enforcement of the BSE controls. Regular features in the Bulletin included results of audits of the SRM controls and the feed sampling programme. The publication also included details of BSE-related prosecutions and news items. The data previously included in these Bulletins is not collated into one publication any more, but is available at various locations on this site and the Food Standards Agency website.

The Review of the Origins of BSE (July 2001) - A report (252 KB) by Professor Horn.

Review of the Evidence of the Occurrence of ‘BARB’ BSE cases in Cattle - An independent review (177 KB) by Professor William Hill FRS, of the University of Edinburgh, examined the possible reasons for the cases of BSE occurring since the reinforced feed ban in 1996 together with the control measures being applied by the government.

The Defra response (55 KB) to the Hill Review is available.

Veterinary assessment of the risk of replacing the culling of cohorts of cattle affected with Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy as soon as possible, with the permanent restriction of cohorts - Regulation (EC) No.1923/2006, which came into force on 19 January 2007, allows Member States to apply for a derogation to defer the culling of cohorts until the end of their productive lives. The request would only be granted subject to a favourable risk assessment, taking into account the control measures in the Member State, and the support of the European Commission and other Member States. However, this UK veterinary risk assessment(98 KB) has concluded that continuing to cull cohorts supports the Government’s challenging target of eradicating BSE in Great Britain by 2010, promotes consumer confidence in UK beef and avoids the need for expensive additional control measures to monitor cohorts left on farms.

Report On Current & Future Surveillance For Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy - On 15 October 2008, the Food Standards Agency asked Defra to provide a report on current and future BSE surveillance. This report (960 KB) by Patrick Burke BVM&S MRCVS, Defra Veterinary Advisor, addresses both risk assessment and risk management.

The following publication is out of print but may be available to order from The Stationery Office:

Animal Health 1998: Report of the Chief Veterinary Officer
TSO, 1999 A4 vi, 119pp
ISBN 0112430503 £23.00

The following publications are available from Defra Publications:

Consultative Committee on Research into Spongiform Encephalopathies:  Interim Report (The Tyrrell report) - The Consultative Committee, under the chairmanship of Dr D.A.J. Tyrrell, was asked to advise MAFF and the Department of Health on needs and priorities in research on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. This interim report identified key research questions concerning BSE and recommended that substantial new resources be provided for the new work identified as having highest priority.
MAFF, 1989 A4 20pp
PB0418 £3.95

Beef Production Systems to Enable Cattle to be Finished by 30 Months of Age - Written by ADAS beef specialists for MAFF, this booklet is aimed at all beef producers in the wake of the BSE crisis and the subsequent requirement for some producers to finish their cattle before 30 months of age. It is particularly aimed at those who have traditionally finished older cattle because they have more extensive systems or have been involved in finishing traditional British breeds.
MAFF, 1996 A4 5pp
PB2758 Free

Report of the Working Party on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (The Southwood report)
DoH, 1989
ISBN 1851974059 2.00

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Publications on Scrapie in sheep and goats

Scrapie: Statistics

Scrapie statistics for active surveillance in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and for passive surveillance of sheep and goats, are available from the VLA website. Statistics for passive Sheep surveillance prior to 2007 are available on the Defra website.

Scrapie: Advisory Notes for Farmers

The Scrapie Advisory Notes for Farmers (PDF 580 KB) were revised and updated in August 2009. A Welsh language version (PDF 580 KB) is also available. Paper copies have been circulated to sheep and goat keepers in England and will be circulated to sheep and goat keepers in Scotland and Wales at a later date.

Research into sheep TSEs

Reports of two independent audits into an experiment undertaken at the Institute for Animal Health to help establish whether BSE might have been present in the sheep flock in the early 1990s and masked by scrapie have been published. Reports of the audits carried out by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) (186 KB) and an independent risk assessment company Risk Solutions (720 KB), are available. A response from the Institute for Animal Health (29 KB) to issues raised in the reports is also available.

Assessment of risk due to BSE infectivity from disposal of sheep

At SEAC's meeting in November 2001, SEAC considered a risk assessment by DNV consulting to assess the potential risk to BSE infectivity from the disposal of sheep. This was commissioned by Defra and will input into the contingency plan (87 KB) on possible actions that could be taken if BSE was identified in the UK sheep flock.

General publications on TSEs

TSEs in Great Britain - A Progress Report (previously BSE Progress Report)

The final edition of this report updates to 31 December 2005 information about the measures taken to protect public and animal health in Great Britain and about the progress in eradicating BSE. Previous editions are available upon request.

Chronology

A summary of the chronology of TSEs in the UK (360 KB) - October 2010.

Guidance Note on Feed Controls

Guidance note on feed controls in the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Regulations (185 KB).

UK Strategy for research and development

UK strategy for research and development on human and animal health aspects of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) 2005 - 2008 - In consultation with scientists working in the area of TSE research the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC), Defra, the Department of Health (DH), the Food Standards Agency (FSA), and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have jointly published a strategy for research and development (3.6 MB - Please note that this is a very large file). An unillustrated version (447 KB) is also available for easier download. This strategy highlights the major scientific uncertainties relating to TSEs and how well these will be addressed by the research and development strategies of the major funders. The formal consultation period has now closed but the MRC would always be interested to hear your views. Please send these to: tsestrategy@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk

Publications on TSES in other species

Other species: Statistics

Statistics for active and passive surveillance of TSEs in other species, including deer, are available on the VLA website.

TSEs in Deer – Advisory Notes for Farmers

The revised Deer Advisory Notes for Farmers (PDF 158 KB) are now available online. A Welsh language version (PDF 158 KB) is also available.

Page last reviewed: 9 July 2010
Page last modified: 1 November, 2010