BSE continues to decline

It says that of more than 11 million cattle, sheep and goats tested for evidence of TSEs, the generic term for BSE type conditions, just 300 cattle, 3,500 sheep and 800 goats returned positive results. Over 90 per cent were picked up through testing at abattoirs or of casualty animals, while the remainder were identified from symptoms identified by farmers or veterinary surgeons. This represents a 45 per cent reduction.

Eleven member states reported no cases of BSE in 2006. This could prompt fresh demands for scientists to look again at the case for increasing from 30 to 36 months the age at which cattle are BSE tested before entering the food chain.