Safeguarding public and animal health

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Cattle TSE surveillance statistics

Cattle cases found as a result of passive surveillance in Great Britain have been recorded since 1986.

The UK carried out limited active surveillance in cattle from 1999 to 2001. The EU active surveillance programme started in July 2001.

In active surveillance, the criteria for inclusion in the testing programme have changed over the years. From 01 July 2011:

• cattle over 48 months of age which die or are killed other than for human consumption
  ('Fallen cattle').

• cattle over 48 months of age which are emergency slaughtered or show certain abnormalities at ante-mortem inspection.

• cattle over 72 months which are healthy slaughtered for human consumption.

These age thresholds above apply to cattle born in the UK or in other EU member states except Bulgaria and Romania. For cattle born elsewhere the age thresholds are 24 months for fallen cattle or emergency slaughtered cattle, and 30 months for healthy fallen cattle.