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Listen to this siteWednesday 30 June 2010
The Agency has been notified that meat from two cattle, which should have been tested for BSE due to their age, have entered the food supply. This is a breach of current BSE controls.
One animal, born and reared in the UK, was aged 57 months and another, born in Estonia and slaughtered in the UK, was aged 37 months.
BSE testing is mandatory for all UK-born cattle slaughtered for human consumption at over 48 months of age. For cattle born in some other countries, including Estonia, the testing age is at aged over 30 months.
It is very unlikely that the animals were infected with BSE and, as specified risk material (SRM) including the spinal cord was removed, any risk to human health is extremely low.
The Estonian-born heifer was imported to the UK in December 2007 and was slaughtered at ABP Sturminster, Sturminster Newton, on 16 April 2010. The failure was discovered during routine data checks on 4 June after all of the affected carcass meat and offal had been batched with product from other animals and left the premises. Traceability records show that affected product had been sent to several meat processing and storage companies in the UK as well as to four countries in the European Union. Where possible, product has been recalled and disposed of within the UK, and the appropriate authorities overseas have been notified.
The UK animal was slaughtered at Pembrokeshire Meat Company’s abattoir in Haverfordwest on 29 April 2010. The failure was discovered on 9 June during routine cross checks of slaughter and BSE test data. By the time the failure was discovered all of the affected carcass meat and offal had left the premises. Some of the affected product had been exported to the Netherlands. The authorities in the Netherlands have been informed. Other edible products from the affected batch of animals remained in Britain. Where possible, product has been recalled and disposed of. Subsequent checks indicate that all of the remaining meat and edible co-product in Britain is no longer in the food supply chain.
The BSE testing age for animals born in the UK was raised to 48 months at the beginning of 2009. Cattle aged over 48 months are allowed to enter the food supply provided they have tested negative for BSE. If there is no BSE test or the animal tests positive, all parts of the carcass must be condemned.
Specified risk material (SRM) is those parts of the animal that contain almost all BSE infectivity, if the animal is infected with BSE.
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