AUSTRALIAN QUESTIONNAIRE TO ASSESS BSE COUNTRY STATUS.
1. RISK ANALYSIS
1.1 Have BSE risk factors in your country been analysed? If so, please supply a copy of the analysis with details of when this assessment was completed and by whom.
(You don' t have to answer the following questions if they were already covered in the document provided in Question 1.)
For all questions, where possible, provide relevant details from 1980 to the present.
2. LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY
2.1 Provide details (copies) of animal health legislation in place relative to BSE. Describe this legislation, the reasons for its introduction and the dates of implementation.
3. BOVINE POPULATIONS
3.1 Provide the number and age distribution of beef and dairy cattle.
3.2 Provide the number and age of cattle slaughtered annually.
3.3 Provide details of the system used to identify individual bovine animals, and the details of the processes in place to enable bovine animals to be traced.
4. ANIMAL TRADE
4.1 Provide details of the BSE risk management measures in your import conditions for bovine animals and bovine embryos.
4.2 Provide details of the numbers, breeds and countries of origin, or all bovine animals and embryos imported since 1980.
4.3 If bovine animals and or bovine embryos were imported from BSE infected countries, describe how the animals are monitored or controlled. Provide details on the end use and disposal methods of these animals.
5. ANIMAL FEED
For questions related to Meat and Bone Meals (MBM), provide details related to pure MBM and stock feeds and fertilisers containing MBM.
5.1 Is your country producing ruminant-derived MBM? If so, provide details of the production/rendering methods used.
5.2 Provide details of the use of ruminant-derived meat and bone meal. (Include details of the stockfeed manufacturers use, species and quantities fed)
5.3 Provide details of import measures related to ruminant-derived MBM.
5.4 Provide details of imported MBM. Include types, totals, country of origin and date of importation.
5.5 Provide details of the use of the imported MBM.
6. MEAT & BOVINE MEAL BANS
6.1 Provide a copy of legislation related to ruminant feeding restrictions.
6.2 Provide details of the timing of introduction and species involved.
6.3 Provide details on the auditing and compliance measures introduced and details of non-compliance statistics.
6.4 Provide details on measures used to control cross-contamination.
7. SPECIFIED RISK MATERIAL (SRM) BANS
7.1 Provide details on any legislation related to specified risk material removal. Proved details of when it was introduced and full description including types of tissues and ages of animals restricted.
7.2 Provide details on the implementation, auditing and compliance measures used and details of no-compliance statistics.
8. SURVEILLANCE OF BSE
8.1 Provide details of the incidence of laboratory confirmed cases of BSE. If BSE has been reported in your country, what are the number of bovine animals, type (beef/dairy), age distribution, geographical distribution and countries of origin of these cases?
8.2 Is BSE a notifiable disease? Provide details regarding the legislation and methods for notification and investigation of suspect cases.
8.3 Provide details on the clinical case definition of bovine animals selected for BSE surveillance.
8.4 Describe surveillance methods, programs and reporting procedures.
8.5 Describe the training and educational efforts for awareness of farmers, veterinarians control services and authorities.
8.6 What are the incentives for reporting cases (e.g. compensation)?
8.7 Provide details of the accreditation of laboratories involved in the surveillance program, laboratory tests used, procedures, and confirmation and recoding of suspect cases of BSE.
9. SLAUGHTERING METHODS
9.1 Provide details on slaughtering methods used for bovine animals at abattoirs.
9.2 Provide details on any restrictions placed on the slaughter of bovine animals over 30 months.
9.3 Provide details on the use of mechanically recovered, mechanically derived or finely textured meat in food production for human consumption.