FSA Board to Change Advice on BSE Testing

From 1 January 2009, certain EU Member States (including the UK) may adopt the revised 48 month BSE test age. Health Ministers across the UK must also agree to support the increased BSE testing age before the change can be implemented.

11/12/08 The Food Standards Agency has agreed to support a move to increase, from 30 months to 48 months, the age at which cattle slaughtered for human consumption are BSE tested. This decision was reached after the Board received assurances about the effectiveness of current and future BSE surveillance.

The Board had received advice from the Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee (SEAC) at its meeting in October 2008 that the increased risks to human health from raising the BSE testing age are very small and that maintaining effective surveillance is important to monitor the changes in BSE risk.

The Board received a commitment from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to maintain effective surveillance in line with scientific recommendations and statutory obligations. It also considered the results of consultation on the proposals undertaken since October.

The advice will be subject to review and will be reassessed if any changes to elements of the BSE control regime are made that adversely affect the risk assessment.

FSA Chair, Dame Deirdre Hutton, said: ‘We are entirely satisfied with the evidence brought before the Board. We felt reassured as to the future effectiveness of BSE surveillance. We are grateful for the comprehensive report that was provided to us by Defra that has enabled us to reach this decision.’

FSA Chief Scientist, Andrew Wadge, said: ‘Following the Board’s request for reassurances on BSE surveillance, SEAC has reaffirmed its confidence that BSE now represents a minimal risk to humans. We welcome Defra’s commitment to keeping surveillance under review and to consult SEAC on the related risk assessments. We are confident that the Board's decision is appropriate given the continuing decline of BSE as a risk to public health.’

The proposal to increase the age at which cattle are BSE tested follows recent changes to EU legislation. From 1 January 2009, certain EU Member States (including the UK) may adopt the revised 48 month BSE test age. Health Ministers across the UK must also agree to support the increased BSE testing age before the change can be implemented.