October 17, 2008

EU increases BSE cattle testing age
    
 
EU animal health experts have increased the minimum age for testing cattle for BSE or mad cow disease to 48 months.

The decision was made due to fewer cases of the brain-wasting virus, according to a EU executive on Tuesday (October 14, 2008).

Currently, all healthy slaughtered cattle aged over 30 months and all cattle above 24 months seen to be at risk of contracting BSE must be tested.

With the nod of the European Parliament, the revised rule is expected to take effect in January 2009.