Updated : 05/06/2008  

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy Website

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a fatal neurological disease of adult cattle that was first recognised in Great Britain in 1986. The clinical signs, the spread and the transmissibility of the disease indicate that it is caused by an unconventional transmissible agent hypothetically termed a prion to denote an infectious protein. The causative agent is similar to that causing scrapie in sheep. The list of infected countries that have reported cases of BSE can be viewed on the OIE website link: bovine spongiform encephalopathy status. The Terrestrial Code (Chapter 2.3.13) makes provision for the BSE risk status of the cattle population in a country, zone or compartment to be determined on the basis of a risk assessment and other evaluation criteria described in the Terrestrial Code. Pending the outcome of the risk assessment the cattle population in a country, zone or compartment can be classified as a negligible BSE risk, a controlled BSE risk or an undetermined BSE risk. Applications of Members are assessed using the information in the completed questionnaire for BSE status recognition, the requirements of Chapter 2.3.13 and the guideline for Surveillance for BSE (Appendix 3.8.4) of the Terrestrial Code. The applications of Members are evaluated by an ad hoc Group of experts and recommendations made to the OIE Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases. Every year, during the General Session in May, the International Committee of the OIE composed of the Official Delegates of the OIE Members adopts a list by Resolution of Members recognised as a negligible BSE risk or a controlled BSE risk. During the General Session in 2008, the International Committee adopted a Resolution XXII summarizing the procedures for Members for the official recognition and maintenance of status of certain animal diseases. For more information, click on "OIE official disease free recognition procedures".

RESOLUTION No. XXI Recognition of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Status of Members   CONSIDERING THAT 1. Adoption of subsequent Resolutions* since the 67th General Session of the OIE International Committee has established a procedure for annually updating a list of Members, categorised by their BSE risk according to the provisions of theTerrestrial Code, 2. During the 70th General Session, the International Committee adopted Resolution No. XVIII asking Members applying for a BSE risk evaluation to meet part of the costs sustained by the OIE Central Bureau in the evaluation process, 3. During the 72nd General Session, the OIE adopted Resolution No. XXI requesting the Director General to inform Delegates of Members whose country or zones are recognised with regard to their BSE risk status should annually confirm during the month of November whether their risk status and the criteria by which their status was recognised have remained unchanged, 4. Information published by the OIE is derived from declarations made by the official Veterinary Services of Members. The OIE is not responsible for inaccurate publication of a Member disease status based on inaccurate information, changes in epidemiological status or other significant events that were not promptly reported to the Central Bureau, subsequent to the time of declaration of the BSE risk status. THE COMMITTEE RESOLVES THAT 1. The Director General publish the following list of Members recognised as having a negligible BSE risk in accordance with Chapter 2.3.13. of the Terrestrial Code: Australia, Argentina, Finland, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Singapore, Sweden and Uruguay. 2. The Director General publish the following list of Members recognised as having a controlled BSE risk in accordance with Chapter 2.3.13. of the Terrestrial Code: Austria Belgium Brazil Canada Chile Chinese Taipei Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lichtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Mexico Netherlands Poland Portugal Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Switzerland United Kingdom United States of America   AND 3. The Delegates of these Members will immediately notify the Central Bureau if BSE occurs in their countries or their territories. _________   (Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 27 May 2008)   * 67th General Session (GS) Resolution No (Res) XVI and Res XI; 69th GS Res XV, and 71st GS Res XXII, 72nd GS Res XXIV and Res XXI..