Northern Ireland recommended for BSE Negligible Risk
Date published:
The World Organisation for Animal Health’s Scientific Commission has recommended that Northern Ireland be recognised as an area having negligible risk for BSE.
The recommendation comes after the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) submitted an application for negligible risk status to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in 2016. The Scientific Commission’s recommendation will now be considered by the OIE World Assembly in May.
Currently Northern Ireland has Controlled Risk status, as does Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
The move to negligible risk status will help improve our global image as a disease-free area and possibly facilitate access to new markets across the world for our premium exports.
Notes to editors:
- Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is one of a group of diseases of the brain which can be fatal.
- The Government has had in place a range of livestock, food and feed controls since the late 1980’s 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.
- All media enquiries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or email: DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.