DAERA Minister has reassured the public
Northern Ireland currently has no link to the confirmed case of
classical BSE in Scotland.
The case was discovered on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway,
Minister Muir said: The confirmation of a positive case of
classical BSE is rare and while it is disappointing, it proves
the controls on BSE surveillance are sufficiently robust,
rigorous and are effective at identifying issues as early as
possible.
At this stage, there are no links to Northern Ireland and this
finding will not impact on Northern Ireland's or Scotland's BSE
negligible risk status."
Investigations are ongoing to identify the origin of the case and
movement restrictions have been put in place.
Movement of cattle from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
continues to remain suspended due to the Bluetongue incursion in
Great Britain.
The case was identified as a result of routine BSE surveillance
and stringent control measures that are in place.
The animal did not enter the human food chain and Food Standards
Scotland have confirmed there is no risk to human health as a
result of this isolated case.
Minister Muir added: Working with the Food Standards Agency we
have stringent controls in meat plants and animal feed companies
to ensure the safety of the food chain in Northern Ireland and
that beef from Northern Ireland is safe to eat.
Contaminated feed can be a cause of BSE and I would urge farmers
to ensure they source feed responsibly and are compliant with
relevant Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE)
legislation including maintaining proper records of food
supplied.
My officials will continue to engage with colleagues in the
Scottish Government and I have asked to be kept updated on
developments as the investigations into the case continue.
Notes to editors:
- Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is one of a group of
diseases of the brain which can be fatal to
cattle: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/introduction-bovine-spongiform-encephalopathy-bse
- The UK Government have in place a range of livestock, food
and feed controls since the late 1980s which have been very
effective in controlling BSE.
- There are strict rules laid down for the prevention, control
and eradication of such disease.
- The UK Government made BSE a notifiable disease in 1988.
- Negligible Risk (NR) status is awarded to those countries or
regions which satisfy the World Organisation for Animal Health
requirements in relation to BSE controls which include feed and
risk material controls.
- Northern Ireland and Scotland, attained NR in 2017, England
and Wales attained NR in 2025.
- Due to the reduced risk, NR status allows the utilisation of
more material from cattle which are NR status, which reduces the
material that must be disposed of after slaughter.
