Policy Prompted by BSE Epidemic

The outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease in the United Kingdom in 1986 prompted countries around the world to take regulatory measures to stop the spread and protect human health. This fatal neuro-degenerative disease occurs in cattle and is believed to cause the variant of Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease (CJD) in humans, from which over 100 people worldwide have died.

Symptoms in bovines include lack of coordination, inability to stand, decreased milk production, and weight loss. As the incidence of BSE in England began increasing, scientific studies discovered the cause to be contaminated ruminant protein in animal feed containing meat and bone meal. In 1988, the English government banned ruminant protein from animal feed, and a slaughter and incineration policy was made compulsory in suspected cases of BSE. In 1989, the export of cattle born before 1989 was banned, and in 1990, all beef products were banned from the market. The government also required detailed records of cattle identification, inspection, breeding, and movement. By 1993, more than 100,000 cases of BSE had been reported.

Outbreaks have occurred in over 20 countries including 3 in the United States in the 2000’s. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), its subset the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) subsequently took similar measures to prevent BSE by identifying and regulating imported cattle products from countries suffering from the epidemic as well as by inspecting domestic products.

Prior to these outbreaks, no one had any reason to suspect the deadly effects of the transmission of this unknown disease. However, fortunately today, the risk has mostly been contained in the present day.