The announcement follows official confirmation from both the Food Standards Agency and Health Ministers that they agree with this change. The minimum BSE testing age for both cattle slaughtered for human consumption and fallen cattle will increase across the UK to 48 months from 1 January 2009. However, this only applies to cattle born and reared in the EU 15 member States.
Announcing the move, the Minister said: “This is good news for the farming industry in the North as there will be some 40,000 less cattle slaughtered for human consumption requiring BSE testing annually, with savings in the region of £400,000 to industry.
“However, I would acknowledge that farmers will from 1 January 2009 have to pay for the collection and disposal of fallen cattle from 24-48 months which will no longer require BSE testing. To help farmers adjust to paying for the disposal of these animals I am putting additional funding into the National Fallen Stock Company this financial year.”
Bovines born or reared outside the EU 15 member States will continue to be tested for BSE in line with current surveillance requirement that is healthy cattle slaughtered for human consumption tested at 30 months of age, and at risk animals tested at 24 months of age.
Notes for Editors
- Since the EU surveillance programme commenced in 2001 there has been a significant decline in the number of BSE cases. This can be seen in Northern Ireland were there has only been four confirmed cases of BSE to date this year. Full details of the number of BSE cases is maintained on the Department’s website.
- This financial year the Department is putting £65,000 into the National Fallen Stock Scheme. This extra funding will assist farmers in meeting the additional costs in collection and disposal of an estimated 3,400 fallen cattle 24 - 48 months of age from January to 31 March 2009.
- There will be an estimated annual total of 50,000 less cattle requiring BSE testing in Northern Ireland due to the increase in BSE testing age change.
- “At Risk animals” are all fallen cattle, emergency slaughter and ante-morten failures.
- The EU 15 countries are Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Sweden and United Kingdom.
- The new minimum BSE testing age of over 48 months only applies to cattle originating in the EU 15 countries. Cattle imported from outside the EU 15, must be BSE tested at 30 months for healthy cattle slaughtered for human consumption, and 24 months for fallen and emergency slaughter cattle.
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