BSE Information and Resources from FSIS

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

Latest BSE News

Statement by Administrator Ron DeHaven, USDA-APHIS, & Acting Administrator Barbara Masters, USDA-FSIS (Aug 24, 2004)
Report and recommendations from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) regarding enhanced BSE surveillance program.
USDA And HHS Strengthen Safeguards Against Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Jul 9, 2004)
- Federal Measures to Mitigate BSE Risks: Considerations for Further Action | PDF (Jul 14, 2004). Proposed Rule.
Joint Statement by APHIS & FSIS Administrators (May 3, 2004)
Veneman Announces Expanded BSE Surveillance Program (Mar 15, 2004)
FSIS Update of Recall Activities (Feb 9, 2004)
USDA Issues New Regulations To Address BSE (Jan 8, 2004)

BSE Information and Resources from FSIS

Using Dentition to Age Cattle - An illustrated tutorial
Despite individual differences, when the age of an animal is not known, examination of the teeth serves as the best and most practical method of age determination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recent FSIS Notices, Directives, etc.

33-04 Compliance and Investigations Division (CID) Protocol for Off-Site Collection of Brain Samples for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Testing | PDF
29-04 Questions and Answers for FSIS Notice 28-04 Regarding Ante-Mortem Condemned Cattle | PDF
28-04 FSIS Sample Collection from Cattle Condemned during Ante-Mortem Inspection for BSE Surveillance Program | PDF
Docket No. 03-025N | PDF | Related Documents
Includes Preliminary Analysis of Interim Final Rules and an Interpretive Rule to Prevent the BSE Agent from Entering the U.S. Food Supply (PDF Only)
10-04 Questions and Answers Regarding the Age Determination of Cattle and Sanitation | PDF
9-04 Verification Instructions For The Interim Final Rule Regarding Specified Risk Materials (SRMs) In Cattle | PDF
7-04 Questions and Answers For FSIS Notice 4-04 Regarding FSIS’s BSE Regulations| PDF
5-04 Interim Guidance For Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle and Age Determination | PDF
4-04 Awareness Meeting Regarding New Regulations that Prohibit Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle and the Use of Certain Materials from Cattle for Human Food |PDF
18-03 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Surveillance Program (May 27, 2003 | PDF
Docket No. 01-027N
BSE Current Thinking Paper; Notice of Availability (Jan 17, 2002) | PDF
Current Thinking On Measures That Could Be Implemented To Minimize Human Exposure To Materials That Could Potentially Contain the BSE Agent | PDF

Harvard Risk Assessment
Evaluation of the Potential for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in the United States (Nov 26, 2001)

Updates & Related Information

Research Triangle Institute's PEER REVIEW of the Harvard BSE Risk Assessment (PDF Only; Oct 31, 2002)
Harvard Center for Risk Assessment's RESPONSE TO REVIEWER COMMENTS Submitted by Research Triangle Institute (PDF Only; Oct 2003)
REVISED RISK ASSESSMENT: Evaluation of the Potential for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in the United States (PDF Only; Oct 2003)

Links to Additional BSE Information

U.S. Department of Agriculture:
BSE Information and Resources from USDA News releases, transcripts and video, statements, and more.

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Hot Issues Page
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is the lead USDA agency on animal health issues.
USDA's BSE Testing Program: Protecting America's Herd
The APHIS BSE toll free number to report high risk cattle is 1-866-536-7593. You will be connected to the Area Veterinarian in Charge and given instructions on how to proceed.

USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Sources of information on the effects of BSE on trade.

USDA/FDA Food Safety Education Information Center
BSE and CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease) Links
From the National Agricultural Library, links to a diverse array of information that may be of interest to those in the food safety field.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The latest news and highlights, plus articles from CDC’s journals.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Hot Topics page FDA includes information about industry/veterinary issues and blood safety.

World Health Organization (WHO)
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)
Facts on BSE and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) from WHO, the United Nations specialized agency for health.


			Safe Food Handling

			Meat Preparation

			Poultry Preparation

			Egg Products Preparation

			Seasonal Food Safety

			Appliances & Thermometers

			Foodborne Illness & Disease

			Emergency Preparedness

			FSIS Programs & Workforce

			Production & Inspection

			Food Labeling


	To view PDF files you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.