Government Response to Mad Cow Disease (BSE): Control Measures and Outcomes

Key Interventions

1. BSE Surveillance & Animal Identification

• Mandatory testing of cattle >30 months (EU) or high-risk cohorts (US).
• National ID systems (ear tags, passports) for traceability from birth to slaughter.

2. Feed Bans (Critical)

• Ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban (1988 UK, 1997 US/Canada, 2001 EU extended).
• Prohibits mammalian meat-and-bone meal (MBM) in ruminant feed.
• Later: "total feed ban" — MBM banned from all farmed animal feed (EU 2001).

3. Specified Risk Material (SRM) Removal

• Brain, spinal cord, eyes, tonsils, distal ileum removed at slaughter and excluded from human/animal food chains.

4. Trade Restrictions

• Import bans on live ruminants, meat, MBM from BSE-affected countries.
• OIE (WOAH) risk status categories (negligible, controlled, undetermined) govern trade.

5. Public Communication

• Transparent reporting of cases, risk assessments, food safety assurances.
• Labeling, recall systems.

6. Research & Innovation

• Rapid diagnostic tests (Western blot, ELISA, PMCA).
• Prion biology, genetic resistance breeding (e.g., ARR sheep genotype).
• Decontamination methods for instruments.

7. Farmer Compensation

• UK: Over £4B paid for culling, market loss.
• Other nations: indemnity programs.

8. International Coordination

• WOAH, WHO, FAO harmonize standards, share data, capacity building.

Outcome

Classical BSE nearly eradicated in many countries; atypical (H-type, L-type) BSE occurs sporadically. vCJD cases peaked 2000; now rare. Food supply safety restored through multilayered controls.