Posted February 20, 2014
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has published a final rule amending import regulations for animals and animal products regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as “mad cow disease.” The Federal Register notice is available here. Agri-Pulse reported on the story here.
The rule, effective March 4, amends the regulations governing importation of animals with regard to BSE. The new system classifies regions in other countries as to BSE risk, based on importation conditions, inherent risk of BSE in specified commodities, and the BSE risk status of the region which the commodity originates.
The new system is consistent with the system used by the World Organization for Animal Health, the organization which sets international standards related to animal health. The system will classify regions as having negligible, controlled, or undetermined risk for the disease.
The regulatory action is authorized under the Animal Health Protection Act, 7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.
BSE causes variant Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (vCJD), which humans can contract from eating meat contaminated with brain or spinal tissue from cattle infected with BSE. BSE is particularly difficult because it is not destroyed when cooked.
For more information on food safety, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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