Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or 'mad cow disease' is a disease of cattle which it is believed can be transmitted to humans and cause variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) via the consumption of BSE contaminated food.
BSE requirements in the Food Standard Code
Since BSE was first identified as a major risk to human health, Australia has had comprehensive arrangements in place to protect Australians from exposure to the BSE agent via the human food chain. In respect of food safety, these arrangements are prescribed in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Food Standards Code), which is administered by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
Standard 2.2.1, Clause 11 of the Food Standards Code states that only those bovine meat and meat products derived from animals free from BSE can be sold on the Australian domestic market. Food ingredients and products that are exempt from these requirements are;
- collagen sourced from bovine skins and hides (including sausage casings produced from this type of collagen);
- gelatine sourced from bovine skins and hides;
- a minor ingredient of a processed product when that ingredient comprises bovine fat and/or bovine tallow at no more than 300 g/kg of the food; and
- dairy products sourced from bovines.
This Standard came into effect on 27 February 2003 (an early version came into effect on 30 August 2001) and remains unchanged.
New BSE Food Safety Policy
On 20 October 2009, the Australian Government announced a change in Australia’s BSE food safety policy for imported beef and beef products which sets new requirements for countries that wish to export beef and beef products to Australia. The new policy came into effect on 1 March 2010.
Under this policy, certain beef and beef products may be imported from countries that apply and are assessed by Australian authorities as being able to demonstrate they have in place, and appropriately monitor, controls necessary to ensure that beef and beef products exported to Australia are derived from animals free of BSE (i.e. conformance with Standard 2.2.1, Clause 11 of the Food Standards Code). This measure is administered by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service informed by risk assessment advice prepared by FSANZ. The FSANZ advice will be based on a risk assessment of a country’s submission to be classified for BSE Risk (country categorisation on BSE risk). The FSANZ advice will be supported, where warranted, by in country inspections.
The importation of beef and beef products for human consumption into Australia is also subject to an assessment of animal quarantine risks by Biosecurity Australia. On 8 April 2010, Biosecurity Australia announced the commencement of concurrent import risk analyses (IRAs) for the United States, Canada and Japan based on previous applications made by these countries. The IRA process addressing animal quarantine risks will run in parallel with the FSANZ BSE food safety country risk assessment. Market access requests from other countries that currently do not have access for beef and beef products, should be made in writing to Biosecurity Australia. Details of the IRA process were included in the advice announcing commencement of the IRAs: Biosecurity Australian Advice 2010/10.
Transition Requirements
Countries that currently export beef and beef products to Australia under the previous policy may continue to do so after 1 March 2010 but will also be subject to a risk assessment under the new policy. Beef or beef products may continue to be imported into Australia from these countries after 30 June 2011 if an application for assessment asCategory 1orCategory 2has been submitted to the Australian BSE Food Safety Assessment Committee and provided no new BSE-risk factors are reported by the country during this period.
Further information on the new policy can be found in the document Review of Scientific Evidence to Inform Australian Policy on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs), October 2009 .
The latest Australian review on the current science and control measures relating to BSE in support of Australia’s new policy can be found in the document Review of Scientific Evidence to Inform Australian Policy on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs), October 2009
Importation of beef and beef products
Australia relies on a system of country categorisation and certification to implement the BSE requirements in the Code for imported food. Details of the process can be obtained from the following links:
The Australian Assessment Process to Assess BSE Risk
The BSE Risk Assessment Process and Certification
Australian Questionnaire to Assess BSE Risk .
Countries wishing to export beef and beef products to Australia must apply to the Australian BSE Food Safety Assessment Committee (the Committee) for assessment. A request for assessment must be accompanied by the completed Australian Questionnaire to Assess BSE Risk. Requests for assessments will be prioritised by the Committee and will be largely based on applicants with the most recent history of exporting beef and beef products to Australia; completeness of data; willingness to engage in an in-country inspection, general history of trade and knowledge of infrastructure and veterinary services.
A risk assessment is undertaken by FSANZ and reviewed by the Committee prior to a draft report being provided to the Applicant Country for comment over a 60-day period. At this time, verification of in-country control measures, if deemed required by the Committee, is undertaken through an in-country inspection by Australian Government officials. Evidence obtained during the in-country inspection will be considered by the Committee prior to completing the assessment. Further details on the assessment process can be found in the document of The Australian Assessment Process to Assess BSE Risk .
Further information can be obtained from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) imported foods website or from Dr. Scott Crerar, FSANZ on phone +61 2 6271 2222, email BSE@foodstandards.gov.au .
Updated 14 April 2010