Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a fatal neurological disease of adult cattle that was first detected in Great Britain in 1986. The clinical signs, the spread and the transmissibility of the disease indicate that it is caused by an unconventional transmissible agent termed a “prion” to denote the hypothesis of an infectious protein. The infectious agent is similar to that causing scrape in sheep and goats.

The Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Chapter 11.4.) provides the requirements that need to be fulfilled by a Member Country to be included in the list of Member Countries officially recognised by the OIE as having a negligible or controlled BSE risk status. A questionnaire was developed in line with Chapter 11.4. to assist Member Countries in the preparation and compilation of dossiers for evaluation by the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases. Member Countries seeking official recognition of BSE risk status must comply with the requirements laid out in Chapter 11.4. of the Terrestrial Code and submit to the OIE the information requested by the questionnaire contained in Article 1.6.5.

The list of Member Countries with a BSE risk status officially recognised by the OIE is available on the OIE website.

BSE Portal
Official disease status
Chapter 11.4. of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code