The Australian Assessment process for BSE country categorisation

An amendment to the Food Standards Code recently approved by the Ministerial Council requires all beef and beef products sold in Australia to be derived from cattle that are free of BSE. In the case of imported food, as there is as yet no test for BSE in processed beef, Australia must rely on a system of certification by each exporting country that the exporting country has taken the appropriate steps to ensure that its cattle are free of BSE. The extent of the certification required is in turn dependent on the likelihood that BSE is present in the cattle population of the exporting country. This likelihood will be assessed by the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) in an evidence-based risk assessment which will draw upon data supplied by the Competent National Government Authority of the exporting country, together with the outcomes of similar risk assessments undertaken by comparable overseas agencies. ANZFA will allocate countries to one of four categories, according to the level of risk:

Countries will be assigned to one of the following categories:

Category A  (certification required) beef and beef products from these countries are regarded as posing a negligible risk to human health.

Category B (certification required) - these countries, while not reporting cases of BSE, may have been exposed to high risk factors, such as the importation of high-risk meat and bone meal.

Category C (certification required) - countries in this category are known to have considerable exposure to BSE risk materials, but have not reported indigenous cases of BSE.

Category D - beef and beef products from countries in this category pose the highest level of risk and will be refused entry to Australia. These countries will have reported   cases of indigenous BSE in their herds.

Consignments of beef and beef products from category D countries cannot be imported. Products from category B and C countries can only be imported if the national authority can certify that the product is derived from animals not exposed to BSE risk and if specific risk materials have been excluded from the food chain.

As from 16 September 2001, The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) will handle applications to import beef and beef products according to the risk category of the country from which the beef ingredients in a product are sourced. AQIS will require official certificates supplied by the agreed Competent National Government Authority from countries placed in the A, B or C risk categories. The certification requirements will depend on the category (see details on www.foodstandards.gov.au ).

Who will be responsible for BSE country categorisation

ANZFA has established the Australian BSE Country Categorisation

Committee (ABCCC) to assess the data supplied for the risk assessments and assign countries to one of the four categories listed above. This committee has expertise in food safety, epidemiology and animal health and will be interacting with other international agencies involved in country risk assessments for BSE.

Which countries need to supply completed questionnaires

All countries seeking to export beef and beef products to Australia will be required to submit completed questionnaires by 16 September 2001. Category D countries will not be required to submit a completed questionnaire as foods produced from beef and beef products will be refused entry to Australia. Completed questionnaires must be in English.

Who can be contacted for more information regarding the questionnaire  

The categorisation system is based on a combination of the OIE International Health Code set out in Articles 2.3.13.2- 2.3.13.6 and the Geographical BSE Risk (GBR) assessments undertaken by the European Commission (EC).  

This will require the exporting country to supply information by completion of a questionnaire regarding:

• Ruminant populations
  
  
• Animal trade
  
  
• Animal feed
  
  
• Meat and bone meal bans
  
  
• Specified risk material bans
  
  
• Surveillance of BSE
  
  
• Rendering and feed processing
  
  
• Slaughtering methods
  
  
• BSE or scrapie related culling  

Further information or clarification on any aspects of the questionnaire should be directed to:

Ms Amanda Hill
Chairperson
Australian BSE Country Categorisation Committee
C/- ANZFA
55 Blackall St
Barton ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA

What data sources will be acceptable

The risk assessments will be based on the information supplied by countries on completion of the questionnaire and the validity of this data will be the responsibility of the Competent National Authority of the country seeking assessment. Where there is insufficient information, the Competent National Authority will be contacted by ABCCC to provide additional information. If further data cannot be supplied, a conservative approached will be taken by the ABCCC in the assessment process. Publicly available resources such as EUROSTAT will be used as additional data sources and to verify data supplied by Competent National Authorities.

How long will the assessment process take

The risk assessment should be completed within one month of receipt of a completed questionnaire by the ABCCC. This time period will be dependent on the completeness, quality and consistency of the data supplied.

How will countries be notified of their BSE risk category

A summary will be sent to the nominated contact point provided by the country seeking categorisation. This report will detail the information on which the assessment has been based and the results of the risk assessment.

Will country categories be published on the Internet

One month after a country has been formally notified of its BSE country category, the outcome will be available on the Internet (see www.foodstandards.gov.au ). This will provide information to both prospective exporters and importers for the entry of foods containing bovine products.

What is the mechanism for review

Should a country be dissatisfied with its categorisation, or have further relevant data, the ABCCC will review its assessment. If required, the ABCCC will call upon relevant external advisers to assist it in this process. The results of the review will be publicly available.

  How does the ABCCC interact with other BSE risk assessment groups

The ABCCC has established contact with the European Commission Scientific Steering Committee responsible for assessing the geographical BSE- risk and with the relevant groups at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Animal Health Risk Assessment Unit and the United States Department of Agriculture. This and other scientific collaboration arrangements will help ensure that assessments and reviews are based on the best available evidence and scientific advice.

Where should the completed questionnaire be sent?

A completed questionnaire and the contact details for the relevant national responsible authority of the submitting country should be forwraded to:

Ms Amanda Hill
Chairperson
Australian BSE Country Categorisation Committee
C/- ANZFA
55 Blackall St
Barton ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA

Enquiries can be directed to: amanda.hill@foodstandards.gov.au

Further information:  http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/whatsinfood/bovinespongiformencephalopathybse/index.cfm