June 8, 2005

Encouraging feedback for revised OIE mad cow disease guidelines
 

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received encouraging support for its decision to streamline the risk categories for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, and to make other changes that ease beef trade.

The US agriculture secretary praised the OIE decision for "modernising the international approach to the safe trade of beef products by updating the BSE guidelines to reflect current science."

Several countries including the US, have spoken up for guidelines that reflect science, the low risks associated with BSE and the effectiveness of risk mitigation measures.

According to the American Meat Institute Foundation, OIE's revised standard supports the view that beef is safe for consumption, even from nations with BSE, as long as appropriate procedures are in place to remove tissue that may pose a risk from BSE infected animals.

The new revisions to OIE's BSE guidelines became effective with their adoption on May 27.