APHIS Proposes New Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Import Regulations in Line with International Animal Health Standards Proposal Aims to Ensure Health of the U.S. Beef Herd, Assist in Negotiations
Abby Yigzaw (301)851-4096 Lyndsay Cole (970) 494-7410
APHIS Proposes New Bovine Import Regulations in Line with International Animal Health Standards Proposal Aims to Ensure Health of the U.S. Beef Herd, Assist in Negotiations
WASHINGTON, March 9, 2012--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced today it is seeking public review and comment on a proposal to complete efforts to modernize the Agency’s import regulations for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
“This proposal is an important step forward in our efforts to bring our import regulations in line with science-based, international animal health standards,” said Dr. John Clifford, APHIS Deputy Administrator and Chief Veterinary Officer. “The proposal will help ensure we continue to provide strong protections against BSE, continue to make science-based decisions, and fully support safe trade in bovine commodities. As we continue to protect the health of the U.S. cattle industry, this proposal will also assist us in future negotiations to reopen important trade markets that remain closed to U.S. beef.”
While the proposed rule would allow for the safe trade of additional bovines and bovine products, it’s important to note that control of imports is only one of several interlocking safeguards against BSE. The proposed rule would not change other measures that are currently in place in the United States. For animal health, these measures include the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban and a robust BSE surveillance program. Human health is protected by measures that ensure the safety of U.S. beef, the most important of which is the ban on animal materials that have been shown to carry the BSE agent (known as specified risk materials) from the food supply.
Under the proposed rule, APHIS would adopt the same criteria and categories that the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) uses to identify a country’s BSE risk status—negligible, controlled, and undetermined risk. APHIS would base its import policy for a particular country on that country’s risk classification as determined by OIE’s risk evaluation. The rule would also allow APHIS to conduct its own assessment when deemed necessary, such as when a country is not yet classified by the OIE for BSE risk and requests that APHIS conduct a risk evaluation using criteria equivalent to that used by OIE. All countries would be considered by APHIS to have an undetermined BSE risk unless officially recognized as either negligible or controlled risk.
The OIE determines a country’s risk status based on actions the country has taken to manage the risk of the disease. These actions include instituting a strong ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban, strictly controlling imports of animals and animal products from countries of undetermined risk, and conducting appropriate surveillance.
The OIE Code, which is based on the latest science and current knowledge concerning BSE, provides guidelines for the safe trade of animals and products based on the country’s risk status and the risk presented by the specific item being traded. For example, under the Code, boneless beef is considered to be lower risk and could be safely imported regardless of the BSE status of the exporting country. Live animals, however, present a higher risk and the OIE guidelines recommend that import requirements be applied depending on the BSE risk classification of the exporting country. In the United States, imported commodities would also need to meet entry requirements for other diseases, where applicable.
This action is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register within a week. The proposed rule is currently available at www.aphis.usda.gov.
Consideration will be given to comments received within 60 days of the rule’s publication in the Federal Register. Send two copies of postal mail or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0010, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. If you wish to submit a comment using the Internet go to the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov/ fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0010. This link will be active upon the rule’s publication in the Federal Register.
Comments are posted on the Reglations.gov website and may also be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To facilitate entry into the comment reading room, please call (202) 690-2817.
Currently, U.S. agriculture is experiencing one of its best period in history thanks to the productivity, resiliency, and resourcefulness of our farmers and ranchers. The work of APHIS helps safeguard our nation’s agriculture, fishing and forestry industries from unwanted pests, disease and unjustified trade restrictions. For example, to promote the health of U.S. agricultural exports, APHIS develops and advances science-based standards with trading partners to ensure our farm exports, valued at more than $137 billion annually, are protected from unjustified barriers. Strong agricultural exports are a positive contribution to the U.S. trade balance, support more than 1 million American jobs and boost economic growth.
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Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements, and media advisories are available on the Internet and through Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds. Go to the APHIS news release page at www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom and click on the RSS feed link. ____________ USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2012/03/bse_rule.shtml
Canada Welcomes US-Proposed Modernized Import Regulations for BSE
March 9, 2012, Ottawa: The Government of Canada welcomes the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposal to modernize its import regulations for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The proposed changes are based on World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines, which Canada also follows.
“Canada supports today’s announcement as we have always maintained that a science-based approach is the best way to manage BSE,” said Agriculture Minister Ritz. “We know that trade should not be affected when countries such as Canada and the United States put in place appropriate measures to protect human and animal health.”
OIE guidelines allow for live cattle and beef products to be safely traded, provided that countries have taken appropriate steps to manage BSE, such as feed controls and surveillance. This announcement follows Minister Ritz’s trade mission to Washington, D.C. where he raised the importance of trade based on sound science and rules that are in line with the international guidelines of the OIE.
Given the integrated North American cattle market, Canada already enjoys a strong trade relationship with the US. This proposed approach underscores the commitment on both sides of the border to responsibly manage BSE, without placing unnecessary restrictions on trade.
Canada continues to effectively manage BSE through a series of integrated safeguards designed to protect both human and animal health. These include prohibiting risk materials from entering the human food and animal feed chains and testing cattle for BSE.
The USDA is accepting comments on its proposed rule for 60 days. For more information on the proposal, visit the USDA website.
For more information on Canada’s BSE control measures
•call 1-800-442-2342
•visit www.inspection.gc.ca/bse
Media enquiries:
CFIA Media Relations
613-773-6600
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/news-releases/bse/eng/1331332954198/1331332994593
Greetings USDA, OIE et al,
what a difference it makes with science, from one day to the next. i.e. that mad cow gold card the USA once held. up until that fateful day in December of 2003, the science of BSE was NO IMPORTS TO USA FROM BSE COUNTRY.
what a difference a day makes$ now that the shoe is on the other foot, the USDA via the OIE, wants to change science again, just for trade $
I implore the OIE decision and policy makers, for the sake of the world, to refuse any status quo of the USA BSE risk assessment. if at al, the USA BSE GBR should be raise to BSE GBR IV, for the following reasons.
North America is awash with many different TSE Prion strains, in many different species, and they are mutating and spreading.
IF the OIE, and whatever policy makers, do anything but raise the risk factor for BSE in North America, then I would regard that to be highly suspicious.
IN fact, it would be criminal in my opinion, because the OIE knows this, and to knowingly expose the rest of the world to this dangerous pathogen, would be ‘knowingly’ and ‘willfully’, just for the almighty dollar, once again.
I warned the OIE about all this, including the risk factors for CWD, and the fact that the zoonosis potential was great, way back in 2002.
THE OIE in collaboration with the USDA, made the legal trading of the atypical Nor-98 Scrapie a legal global commodity. yes, thanks to the OIE and the USDA et al, it’s now legal to trade the atypical Nor-98 Scrapie strain all around the globe. IF you let them, they will do the same thing with atypical BSE and CWD (both strains to date). This with science showing that indeed these TSE prion strains are transmissible.
I strenuously urge the OIE et al to refuse any weakening to the USA trade protocols for the BSE TSE prion disease (all strains), and urge them to reclassify the USA with BSE GBR IV risk factor.
SOURCE REFERENCES AS FOLLOWS ;
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION OF THE SIXTEENTH CASE OF BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) IN CANADA
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2010/08/report-on-investigation-of-sixteenth.html
Thursday, August 19, 2010
REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION OF THE SEVENTEENTH CASE OF BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) IN CANADA
http://bseusa.blogspot.com/2010/08/report-on-investigation-of-seventeenth.html
Thursday, February 10, 2011
TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY REPORT UPDATE CANADA FEBRUARY 2011 and how to hide mad cow disease in Canada Current as of: 2011-01-31
http://madcowtesting.blogspot.com/2011/02/transmissible-spongiform-encephalopathy.html
Friday, March 4, 2011
Alberta dairy cow found with mad cow disease
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/03/alberta-dairy-cow-found-with-mad-cow.html
Saturday, June 19, 2010
U.S. DENIED UPGRADED BSE STATUS FROM OIE
http://usdameatexport.blogspot.com/2010/06/us-denied-upgraded-bse-status-from-oie.html
Comment from Terry S Singletary Sr
Document ID: APHIS-2006-0041-0006 Document
Type: Public Submission This is comment on Proposed
Rule: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Minimal-Risk Regions; Importation of Live Bovines and Products Derived From Bovines Docket ID: APHIS-2006-0041
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2006-0041-0006;oldLink=false
http://docket-aphis-2006-0041.blogspot.com/2008/06/bovine-spongiform-encephalopathy.html
http://docket-aphis-2006-0041.blogspot.com/
Docket No. 03-080-1 -- USDA ISSUES PROPOSED RULE TO ALLOW LIVE ANIMAL
IMPORTS FROM CANADA
https://web01.aphis.usda.gov/BSEcom.nsf/0/b78ba677e2b0c12185256dd300649f9d?OpenDocument&AutoFramed
PLEASE SEE FULL TEXT HERE ;
Docket No. 03-080-1 -- USDA ISSUES PROPOSED RULE TO ALLOW LIVE ANIMAL IMPORTS FROM CANADA
http://madcowfeed.blogspot.com/2008/07/docket-no-03-080-1-usda-issues-proposed.html
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: US SENATOR AND STAN THE MAN SLAM USDA ''DAMNING TESTIMONY''
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2004 15:15:24 –0600
From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr." flounder@wt.net
Reply-To: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE-L@uni-karlsruhe.de
To: BSE-L@uni-karlsruhe.de
######## Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy #########
Greetings List members,
damning testimony below. be sure to _first_ open up real player competely, then paste your url in there. this worked best for me.........TSS
US SENATOR AND STAN THE MAN SLAM USDA ''DAMNING TESTIMONY''
Senator Michael Machado from California
''USDA does not know what's going on''.
''USDA is protecting the industry''.
''SHOULD the state of California step in''
Stanley Prusiner
''nobody has ever ask us to comment''
''they don't want us to comment''
''they never ask''
i tried to see Venemon, after Candian cow was discovered with BSE. went to see lyle. after talking with him...
absolute ignorance...
then thought I should see Venemon...
it was clear his entire policy was to get cattle bonless beef prods across the border...
nothing else mattered...
his aids confirmed this...
5 times i tried to see Venemon, never worked...
eventually met with carl rove the political...
he is the one that arranged meeting with Venemon...
just trying to give you a sense of the distance...
healh public safety...
was never contacted...
yes i believe that prions are bad to eat and you can die from them...
END
PLEASE NOTE THESE VIDEOS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE INTERNET $$$
Dr. Stan bashing Ann Veneman - 3 minutes
http://maddeer.org/video/embedded/08snip.ram
Recall Authority and Mad Cow Disease: Is the Current System Good for Californians?
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
JOINT HEARING
AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND SELECT
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT - MACHADO, ORTIZ, and SPEIER, Chairs
Choose a RealPlayer video --->
Selected excerpts:
Opening Statement by Senator Michael Machado
http://maddeer.org/video/embedded/machado.html
Elisa Odibashian - Consumers Union
http://maddeer.org/video/embedded/odibashian.html
Anthony Iton - Alemeda County Health
http://maddeer.org/video/embedded/iton.html
USDA's "memorandum of understanding"
http://maddeer.org/video/embedded/usda.html
Dave Louthan - Killed the Mad Cow
http://maddeer.org/video/embedded/louthan.html
Dennis Laycraft - Canadian Cattlemen's Association
http://maddeer.org/video/embedded/laycraft.html
Stanley Prusiner - Discoverer of Prions
http://maddeer.org/video/embedded/prusiner.html
Steven DeArmond - Professor of Neuropathology
http://maddeer.org/video/embedded/dearmond.html
Entire 5 hour hearing - The California Channel
(scroll down to "022404 Senate Info-Hearing")
http://www.calchannel.com/february2004.htm
PLEASE NOTE THIS HEARING IN CALIFORNIA, THE VIDEOS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE INTERNET IN BOTH THE OFFICIAL, AND UNOFFICIAL WEBSITES I.E. MADDEER.ORG AND CALIFORNIA SENATE SITE WHERE THEY ONCE WERE...TSS
Sunday, November 13, 2011
California BSE mad cow beef recall, QFC, CJD, and dead stock downer livestock
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/11/california-bse-mad-cow-beef-recall-qfc.html
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Importation of Whole Cuts of Boneless Beef from Japan [Docket No. 05-004-1] RIN 0579-AB93
Subject: Importation of Whole Cuts of Boneless Beef from Japan [Docket No. 05-004-1] RIN 0579-AB93 TSS SUBMISSION
http://docket-aphis-2006-0041.blogspot.com/2012/01/importation-of-whole-cuts-of-boneless.html
Saturday, April 10, 2010
TOYOTA VS MAD COW DISEASE USA OIE BSE MRR IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADE WARS
http://usdameatexport.blogspot.com/2010/04/toyota-vs-mad-cow-disease-usa-oie-bse.html
HARVARD BSE RISK ASSESSMENT AND REASSESSMENT OF SUPPRESSED HARVARD RISK ASSESSMENT THAT WAS SO FLAWED $$$
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/Comments/2006-0011/2006-0011-1.pdf
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/BSE_Risk_Assess_Response_Public_Comments.pdf
Docket APHIS-2006-0041 Docket Title Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Minimal-Risk Regions; Importation of Live Bovines and Products Derived from Bovines Commodities Docket Type Rulemaking Document APHIS-2006-0041-0001
Document Title Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Minimal-Risk Regions; Importation of Live Bovines and Products Derived From Bovines
Public Submission APHIS-2006-0041-0028 Public Submission Title Comment from Terry S Singletary Comment 2006-2007
USA AND OIE POISONING GLOBE WITH BSE MRR POLICY THE USA is in a most unique situation, one of unknown circumstances with human and animal TSE. THE USA has the most documented TSE in different species to date, with substrains growing in those species (BSE/BASE in cattle and CWD in deer and elk, there is evidence here with different strains), and we know that sheep scrapie has over 20 strains of the typical scrapie with atypical scrapie documented and also BSE is very likely to have passed to sheep. all of which have been rendered and fed back to animals for human and animal consumption, a frightening scenario. WE do not know the outcome, and to play with human life around the globe with the very likely TSE tainted products from the USA, in my opinion is like playing Russian roulette, of long duration, with potential long and enduring consequences, of which once done, cannot be undone. These are the facts as I have come to know through daily and extensive research of TSE over 9 years, since 12/14/97. I do not pretend to have all the answers, but i do know to continue to believe in the ukbsenvcjd only theory of transmission to humans of only this one strain from only this one TSE from only this one part of the globe, will only lead to further failures, and needless exposure to humans from all strains of TSE, and possibly many more needless deaths from TSE via a multitude of proven routes and sources via many studies with primates and rodents and other species. MY personal belief, since you ask, is that not only the Canadian border, but the USA border, and the Mexican border should be sealed up tighter than a drum for exporting there TSE tainted products, until a validated, 100% sensitive test is available, and all animals for human and animal consumption are tested. all we are doing is the exact same thing the UK did with there mad cow poisoning when they exported it all over the globe, all the while knowing what they were doing. this BSE MRR policy is nothing more than a legal tool to do just exactly what the UK did, thanks to the OIE and GW, it's legal now. and they executed Saddam for poisoning ??? go figure. ...
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=09000064801f8151
Docket APHIS-2006-0041 Docket Title Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Minimal-Risk Regions; Importation of Live Bovines and Products Derived from Bovines Commodities Docket Type Rulemaking Document APHIS-2006-0041-0001 Document Title Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Minimal-Risk Regions; Importation of Live Bovines and Products Derived From Bovines Public Submission APHIS-2006-0041-0028.1 Public Submission Title Attachment to Singletary comment January 28, 2007
Greetings APHIS, I would kindly like to submit the following to ;
BSE; MRR; IMPORTATION OF LIVE BOVINES AND PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM BOVINES [Docket No. APHIS-2006-0041] RIN 0579-AC01
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/ContentViewer?objectId=09000064801f8152&disposition=attachment&contentType=msw8
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/Comments/03-025IFA/03-025IFA-2.pdf
Friday, February 18, 2011
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA VS GALEN J. NIEHUES FAKED MAD COW FEED TEST ON 92 BSE INSPECTION REPORTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 CATTLE OPERATIONS ''PLEADS GUILTY"
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2011/02/united-states-of-america-vs-galen-j.html
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Manitoba veterinarian has been fined $10,000 for falsifying certification documents for U.S. bound cattle and what about mad cow disease ?
http://usdameatexport.blogspot.com/2010/12/manitoba-veterinarian-has-been-fined.html
Owner and Corporation Plead Guilty to Defrauding Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Surveillance Program
An Arizona meat processing company and its owner pled guilty in February 2007 to charges of theft of Government funds, mail fraud, and wire fraud. The owner and his company defrauded the BSE Surveillance Program when they falsified BSE Surveillance Data Collection Forms and then submitted payment requests to USDA for the services. In addition to the targeted sample population (those cattle that were more than 30 months old or had other risk factors for BSE), the owner submitted to USDA, or caused to be submitted, BSE obex (brain stem) samples from healthy USDA-inspected cattle. As a result, the owner fraudulently received approximately $390,000. Sentencing is scheduled for May 2007.
snip...
Topics that will be covered in ongoing or planned reviews under Goal 1 include:
soundness of BSE maintenance sampling (APHIS),
implementation of Performance-Based Inspection System enhancements for specified risk material (SRM) violations and improved inspection controls over SRMs (FSIS and APHIS),
snip...
The findings and recommendations from these efforts will be covered in future semiannual reports as the relevant audits and investigations are completed.
4 USDA OIG SEMIANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS FY 2007 1st Half
http://www.usda.gov/oig/webdocs/sarc070619.pdf
-MORE Office of the United States Attorney District of Arizona FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For Information Contact Public Affairs February 16, 2007 WYN HORNBUCKLE Telephone: (602) 514-7625 Cell: (602) 525-2681
CORPORATION AND ITS PRESIDENT PLEAD GUILTY TO DEFRAUDING GOVERNMENTS MAD COW DISEASE SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM
PHOENIX -- Farm Fresh Meats, Inc. and Roland Emerson Farabee, 55, of Maricopa, Arizona, pleaded guilty to stealing $390,000 in government funds, mail fraud and wire fraud, in federal district court in Phoenix. U.S. Attorney Daniel Knauss stated, The integrity of the system that tests for mad cow disease relies upon the honest cooperation of enterprises like Farm Fresh Meats. Without that honest cooperation, consumers both in the U.S. and internationally are at risk. We want to thank the USDAs Office of Inspector General for their continuing efforts to safeguard the public health and enforce the law.†Farm Fresh Meats and Farabee were charged by Information with theft of government funds, mail fraud and wire fraud. According to the Information, on June 7, 2004, Farabee, on behalf of Farm Fresh Meats, signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (the USDA Agreement) to collect obex samples from cattle at high risk of mad cow disease (the Targeted Cattle Population). The Targeted Cattle Population consisted of the following cattle: cattle over thirty months of age; nonambulatory cattle; cattle exhibiting signs of central nervous system disorders; cattle exhibiting signs of mad cow disease; and dead cattle. Pursuant to the USDA Agreement, the USDA agreed to pay Farm Fresh Meats $150 per obex sample for collecting obex samples from cattle within the Targeted Cattle Population, and submitting the obex samples to a USDA laboratory for mad cow disease testing. Farm Fresh Meats further agreed to maintain in cold storage the sampled cattle carcasses and heads until the test results were received by Farm Fresh Meats.
Evidence uncovered during the government’s investigation established that Farm Fresh Meats and Farabee submitted samples from cattle outside the Targeted Cattle Population. Specifically, Farm Fresh Meats and Farabee submitted, or caused to be submitted, obex samples from healthy, USDA inspected cattle, in order to steal government moneys.
Evidence collected also demonstrated that Farm Fresh Meats and Farabee failed to maintain cattle carcasses and heads pending test results and falsified corporate books and records to conceal their malfeasance. Such actions, to the extent an obex sample tested positive (fortunately, none did), could have jeopardized the USDAs ability to identify the diseased animal and pinpoint its place of origin. On Wednesday, February 14, 2007, Farm Fresh Meats and Farabee pleaded guilty to stealing government funds and using the mails and wires to effect the scheme. According to their guilty pleas:
(a) Farm Fresh Meats collected, and Farabee directed others to collect, obex samples from cattle outside the Targeted Cattle Population, which were not subject to payment by the USDA;
(b) Farm Fresh Meats 2 and Farabee caused to be submitted payment requests to the USDA knowing that the requests were based on obex samples that were not subject to payment under the USDA Agreement;
(c) Farm Fresh Meats completed and submitted, and Farabee directed others to complete and submit, BSE Surveillance Data Collection Forms to the USDA’s testing laboratory that were false and misleading;
(d) Farm Fresh Meats completed and submitted, and Farabee directed others to complete and submit, BSE Surveillance Submission Forms filed with the USDA that were false and misleading;
(e) Farm Fresh Meats falsified, and Farabee directed others to falsify, internal Farm Fresh Meats documents to conceal the fact that Farm Fresh Meats was seeking and obtaining payment from the USDA for obex samples obtained from cattle outside the Targeted Cattle Population; and
(f) Farm Fresh Meats failed to comply with, and Farabee directed others to fail to comply with, the USDA Agreement by discarding cattle carcasses and heads prior to receiving BSE test results. A conviction for theft of government funds carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. Mail fraud and wire fraud convictions carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. Convictions for the above referenced violations also carry a maximum fine of $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for organizations. In determining an actual sentence, Judge Earl H. Carroll will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.
Sentencing is set before Judge Earl H. Carroll on May 14, 2007. The investigation in this case was conducted by Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alejandro Quintero, United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General. The prosecution is being handled by Robert Long, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix. CASE NUMBER: CR-07-00160-PHX-EHC RELEASE NUMBER: 2007-051(Farabee) # # #
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/az/press_r...1(Farabee).pdf
----- Original Message -----
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
To: Debra.Beasley@aphis.usda.gov
Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 11:01 AM
Subject: OIE has recently published its proposed animal welfare guidelines for public comment
Greetings USDA/APHIS et al,
I would kindly like to comment on OIE proposed guidelines.
AS I said before, OIE should hang up there jock strap now, since it appears they will buckle every time a country makes some political hay about trade protocol, commodities and futures. IF they are not going to be science based, they should do everyone a favor and dissolve there organization. THE reason most every country around the globe came down with BSE/TSE in their cattle, were due to the failed and flawed BSE/TSE testing and surveillance policy of the O.I.E. NOW, they don't even acknowledge atypical scrapie it seems, as one for concern $
Monday, November 23, 2009
BSE GBR RISK ASSESSMENTS UPDATE NOVEMBER 23, 2009 COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND O.I.E.
http://docket-aphis-2006-0041.blogspot.com/2009/11/bse-gbr-risk-assessments-update.html
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 2:24 PM
O.I.E. Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission and prion (TSE) disease reporting 2011
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/05/oie-terrestrial-animal-health-standards.html
Monday, November 30, 2009
USDA AND OIE COLLABORATE TO EXCLUDE ATYPICAL SCRAPIE NOR-98 ANIMAL HEALTH CODE
http://nor-98.blogspot.com/2009/11/usda-and-oie-collaborate-to-exclude.html
IT is simply amazing to me how the OIE picks and chooses on what scrapie cases to report from what country, while never reporting cases the same way for the USA.
AGAIN, I ask, why is it that the USA, Canada, and Mexico, i.e. North America, why is it that all there animal TSEs (including Scrapie, and should be atypical scrapie, but the USDA and the OIE made atypical Nor-98 scrapie a legal commodity), but why is it that the USA, Canada, and Mexico, do not get there Scrapie cases reported to the public and posted on their site and or in there e-alerts ? it’s like the USA does not have Scrapie cases or any other TSE prion disease, if you go by what the OIE reports. SO again, why is it the OIE does not report animal TSE for North America, the same way it reports it for countries from the Middle East ?
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Scrapie, Israel via OIE 02/02/2012
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 10:28 AM
To: BSE-L BSE-L
Cc: hmb-central@icba.org.il ; delegation-israel@eeas.europa.eu ; Cvo_vsah@moag.gov.il ; galonn@moag.gov.il ; CJDVOICE CJDVOICE ; bloodcjd bloodcjd
Subject: Scrapie, Israel via OIE 02/02/2012
http://scrapie-usa.blogspot.com/2012/02/scrapie-israel-via-oie-02022012.html
Increased Atypical Scrapie Detections
Press reports indicate that increased surveillance is catching what otherwise would have been unreported findings of atypical scrapie in sheep. In 2009, five new cases have been reported in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. With the exception of Quebec, all cases have been diagnosed as being the atypical form found in older animals. Canada encourages producers to join its voluntary surveillance program in order to gain scrapie-free status. The World Animal Health will not classify Canada as scrapie-free until no new cases are reported for seven years. The Canadian Sheep Federation is calling on the government to fund a wider surveillance program in order to establish the level of prevalence prior to setting an eradication date. Besides long-term testing, industry is calling for a compensation program for farmers who report unusual deaths in their flocks.
http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/This%20Week%20in%20Canadian%20Agriculture%20%20%20%20%20Issue%2028_Ottawa_Canada_11-6-2009.pdf
J Vet Diagn Invest 21:454-463 (2009)
Nor98 scrapie identified in the United States
Christie M. Loiacono,' Bruce V. Thomsen, S. Mark Hall, Matti Kiupe!, Diane Sutton, Katherine O'Rourke, Bradd Barr, Lucy Anthenill, Deiwyn Keane
Abstract.
A distinct strain of scrapic identified in sheep of Norway in 1998 has since been identified in numerous countries throughout Europe. The disease is known as Nor98 or Not-98-like scrapic. among other names. Distinctions between classic scrapie and Nor98 scrapie are made based on histopathologv and immunodiagnostic results. There are also differences in the epidemiology, typical signalment, and likelihood of clinical signs being observed. In addition, sheep that have genotypes associated with resistance to classic scrapie are not spared from Nor98 disease. The various differences between classic and Nor98 scrapie have been consistently reported in the vast majority of cases described across Europe. The current study describes in detail the patholo gic changes and diagnostic results of the first 6 cases of' Nor98 scrapic disease diagnosed in sheep of the United States.
Key words: Hisiopathology: Nor98: PrP imniunolabeling; scrapie: sheep.
snip...
Results
Case I
The first case identified as consistent with Nor98 scrapie had nonclassic PrP distribution in brain tissue, no PrPSC in lymph tissue, and nonclassic migration of protein bands on a Western blot test. The animal was an aged, mottled-faced ewe that was traced back to a commercial flock in Wyoming. ...
Case 2
The second case was a clinically normal 8-year-old Suffolk ewe that had been in a quarantined flock for 5 years at a USDA facility in Iowa.
Case 3
A 16-year-old, white-faced, cross-bred wether was born to a black-faced ewe. He lived his entire life as a pet on a farm in California.
Case 4
The fourth case of Nor98 scrapie was identified in an approximately 8-year-old Dorset ewe that was born into a flock of approximately 20 ewes in Indiana.
Case 5
The fifth case was a clinically normal, approximately 3-year-old, white-faced, cross-bred ewe from an approximately 400 head commercial flock in Minnesota.
Case 6
The sixth case of Nor98 scrapie was identified in a 4-year-old, white-faced ewe that was purchased and added to a commercial flock in Pennsylvania
snip...
see full text ;
http://ddr.nal.usda.gov/bitstream/10113/33943/1/IND44241920.pdf
http://scrapie-usa.blogspot.com/
Sunday, April 18, 2010
SCRAPIE AND ATYPICAL SCRAPIE TRANSMISSION STUDIES A REVIEW 2010
http://scrapie-usa.blogspot.com/2010/04/scrapie-and-atypical-scrapie.html
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Atypical Scrapie NOR-98 confirmed Alberta Canada sheep January 2012 (USA UPDATE ALSO)
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2012/02/atypical-scrapie-nor-98-confirmed.html
I see again that the OIE has done little to help eradicate all animal TSE from the globe, and in fact in my opinion, have help enhance the spread of BSE and other animal TSE globally by their industry friendly regulations. I tried to warn the OIE in 2002 about CWD and the potential, but very real threat of CWD to humans. I was told that they were seriously considering this. what happened ? NOW, the OIE and the USDA collaborate to make legal the trading of all strains of atypical BSE legal, and in fact have done so with the atypical scrapie, when science has made perfectly clear the risk factors to humans and other species. I have said it once (see below), and i will say again ;
"THE OIE has now shown they are nothing more than a National Trading Brokerage for all strains of animal TSE. AS i said before, OIE should hang up there jock strap now, since it appears they will buckle every time a country makes some political hay about trade protocol, commodities and futures. IF they are not going to be science based, they should do everyone a favor and dissolve there organization."
NOW, some history on the failed OIE BSE/TSE policy, and why the OIE allowed BSE and other TSE to spread around the globe $$$
snip...see full text ;
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2010/12/oie-global-conference-on-wildlife.html
Saturday, March 10, 2012
CWD, GAME FARMS, urine, feces, soil, lichens, and banned mad cow protein feed CUSTOM MADE for deer and elk
http://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2012/03/cwd-game-farms-urine-feces-soil-lichens.html
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Enhanced Surveillance Strategies for Detecting and Monitoring Chronic Wasting Disease in Free-Ranging Cervids Open-File Report 2012–1036 National Wildlife Health Center
Open-File Report 2012–1036
http://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2012/03/enhanced-surveillance-strategies-for.html
2012
PIG IN A POKE !!!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Prion Disease Risks in the 21st Century 2011 PDA European Virus-TSE Safety Dr. Detwiler
Dr. Detwiler published Prion Disease Risks in the 21st Century 2011 PDA European Virus-TSE Safety Forum\Presentations TSE\ Page 33 and 34 of 44 ;
http://www.pda.org/
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2012/01/prion-disease-risks-in-21st-century.html
10,000,000+ LBS. of PROHIBITED BANNED MAD COW FEED I.E. BLOOD LACED MBM IN COMMERCE USA 2007
Date: March 21, 2007 at 2:27 pm PST
RECALLS AND FIELD CORRECTIONS: VETERINARY MEDICINES -- CLASS II
___________________________________
PRODUCT
Bulk cattle feed made with recalled Darling's 85% Blood Meal, Flash Dried, Recall # V-024-2007
CODE
Cattle feed delivered between 01/12/2007 and 01/26/2007
RECALLING FIRM/MANUFACTURER
Pfeiffer, Arno, Inc, Greenbush, WI. by conversation on February 5, 2007.
Firm initiated recall is ongoing.
REASON
Blood meal used to make cattle feed was recalled because it was cross- contaminated with prohibited bovine meat and bone meal that had been manufactured on common equipment and labeling did not bear cautionary BSE statement.
VOLUME OF PRODUCT IN COMMERCE
42,090 lbs.
DISTRIBUTION
WI
___________________________________
PRODUCT
Custom dairy premix products: MNM ALL PURPOSE Pellet, HILLSIDE/CDL Prot- Buffer Meal, LEE, M.-CLOSE UP PX Pellet, HIGH DESERT/ GHC LACT Meal, TATARKA, M CUST PROT Meal, SUNRIDGE/CDL PROTEIN Blend, LOURENZO, K PVM DAIRY Meal, DOUBLE B DAIRY/GHC LAC Mineral, WEST PIONT/GHC CLOSEUP Mineral, WEST POINT/GHC LACT Meal, JENKS, J/COMPASS PROTEIN Meal, COPPINI - 8# SPECIAL DAIRY Mix, GULICK, L-LACT Meal (Bulk), TRIPLE J - PROTEIN/LACTATION, ROCK CREEK/GHC MILK Mineral, BETTENCOURT/GHC S.SIDE MK-MN, BETTENCOURT #1/GHC MILK MINR, V&C DAIRY/GHC LACT Meal, VEENSTRA, F/GHC LACT Meal, SMUTNY, A- BYPASS ML W/SMARTA, Recall # V-025-2007
CODE
The firm does not utilize a code - only shipping documentation with commodity and weights identified.
RECALLING FIRM/MANUFACTURER
Rangen, Inc, Buhl, ID, by letters on February 13 and 14, 2007. Firm initiated recall is complete.
REASON
Products manufactured from bulk feed containing blood meal that was cross contaminated with prohibited meat and bone meal and the labeling did not bear cautionary BSE statement.
VOLUME OF PRODUCT IN COMMERCE
9,997,976 lbs.
DISTRIBUTION
ID and NV
END OF ENFORCEMENT REPORT FOR MARCH 21, 2007
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/enforce/2007/ENF00996.html
NEW URL
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/EnforcementReports/2007/ucm120446.htm
Thursday, March 19, 2009
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF MAD COW FEED IN COMMERCE USA WITH ONGOING 12 YEARS OF DENIAL
http://madcowfeed.blogspot.com/2009/03/millions-and-millions-of-pounds-of-mad.html
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Animal Proteins Prohibited in Ruminant Feed/Adulterated/Misbranded Rangen Inc 2/11/10 USA
http://madcowfeed.blogspot.com/2010/03/animal-proteins-prohibited-in-ruminant.html
Monday, March 1, 2010
ANIMAL PROTEIN I.E. MAD COW FEED IN COMMERCE A REVIEW 2010
http://madcowfeed.blogspot.com/2010/03/animal-protien-ie-mad-cow-feed-in.html
Saturday, November 6, 2010
TAFS1 Position Paper on Position Paper on Relaxation of the Feed Ban in the EU
Berne, 2010 TAFS INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR TRANSMISSIBLE ANIMAL DISEASES AND FOOD SAFETY a non-profit Swiss Foundation
http://madcowfeed.blogspot.com/2010/11/tafs1-position-paper-on-position-paper.html
Archive Number 20101206.4364 Published Date 06-DEC-2010 Subject PRO/AH/EDR>
Prion disease update 2010 (11) PRION DISEASE UPDATE 2010 (11)
http://www.promedmail.org/direct.php?id=20101206.4364
Sunday, February 5, 2012 February 2012
Update on Feed Enforcement Activities to Limit the Spread of BSE
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2012/02/february-2012-update-on-feed.html
Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Update, October 31, 2005 INTRODUCTION The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) held a public meeting on July 25, 2006 in Washington, D.C. to present findings from the Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Update, October 31, 2005 (report and model located on the FSIS website:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Risk_Assessments/index.asp).
Comments on technical aspects of the risk assessment were then submitted to FSIS.
Comments were received from Food and Water Watch, Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT), Farm Sanctuary, R-CALF USA, Linda A Detwiler, and Terry S. Singeltary.
This document provides itemized replies to the public comments received on the 2005 updated Harvard BSE risk assessment. Please bear the following points in mind:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/BSE_Risk_Assess_Response_Public_Comments.pdf
Owens, Julie From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. [flounder9@verizon.net]
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 1:09 PM
To: FSIS RegulationsComments
Subject: [Docket No. FSIS-2006-0011] FSIS Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Page 1 of 98
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/Comments/2006-0011/2006-0011-1.pdf
FSIS, USDA, REPLY TO SINGELTARY
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/BSE_Risk_Assess_Response_Public_Comments.pdf
Monday, October 10, 2011
EFSA Journal 2011 The European Response to BSE: A Success Story
snip...
EFSA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recently delivered a scientific opinion on any possible epidemiological or molecular association between TSEs in animals and humans (EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) and ECDC, 2011). This opinion confirmed Classical BSE prions as the only TSE agents demonstrated to be zoonotic so far but the possibility that a small proportion of human cases so far classified as "sporadic" CJD are of zoonotic origin could not be excluded. Moreover, transmission experiments to non-human primates suggest that some TSE agents in addition to Classical BSE prions in cattle (namely L-type Atypical BSE, Classical BSE in sheep, transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) and chronic wasting disease (CWD) agents) might have zoonotic potential.
snip...
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/e991.htm?emt=1
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/e991.pdf
see follow-up here about North America BSE Mad Cow TSE prion risk factors, and the ever emerging strains of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy in many species here in the USA, including humans ;
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/10/efsa-journal-2011-european-response-to.html
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Seven main threats for the future linked to prions
First threat
The TSE road map defining the evolution of European policy for protection against prion diseases is based on a certain numbers of hypotheses some of which may turn out to be erroneous. In particular, a form of BSE (called atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), recently identified by systematic testing in aged cattle without clinical signs, may be the origin of classical BSE and thus potentially constitute a reservoir, which may be impossible to eradicate if a sporadic origin is confirmed.
***Also, a link is suspected between atypical BSE and some apparently sporadic cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. These atypical BSE cases constitute an unforeseen first threat that could sharply modify the European approach to prion diseases.
Second threat
snip...
http://www.neuroprion.org/en/np-neuroprion.html
Saturday, March 5, 2011
MAD COW ATYPICAL CJD PRION TSE CASES WITH CLASSIFICATIONS PENDING ON THE RISE IN NORTH AMERICA
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/03/mad-cow-atypical-cjd-prion-tse-cases.html
Sunday, February 12, 2012
National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center Cases Examined1 (August 19, 2011) including Texas
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2012/02/national-prion-disease-pathology.html
Friday, March 09, 2012
Experimental H-type and L-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle: observation of two clinical syndromes and diagnostic challenges
Research article
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2012/03/experimental-h-type-and-l-type-bovine.html
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE
31 USA SENATORS ASK PRESIDENT OBAMA TO HELP SPREAD MAD COW DISEASE 2012
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2012/02/bovine-spongiform-encephalopathy-bse-31.html
Thursday, February 23, 2012
EIGHT FORMER SECRETARIES OF AGRICULTURE SPEAKING AT USDA'S 2012 AGRICULTURE OUTLOOK FORUM INDUCTED INTO USA MAD COW HALL OF SHAME
http://madcowusda.blogspot.com/2012/02/eight-former-secretaries-of-agriculture.html
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Audit says USDA lost track of imported cattle Report No. 50601-0012-Ch March 2008
http://usdameatexport.blogspot.com/2008/07/audit-says-usda-lost-track-of-imported.html
http://usdameatexport.blogspot.com/2007/11/transcript-of-questions-and-answers.html
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
IMPORTATION OF CANADIAN CATTLE, BISON, SHEEP, AND GOATS INTO THE UNITED STATES 12/1/09
http://usdameatexport.blogspot.com/2009/12/importation-of-canadian-cattle-bison.html
http://usdameatexport.blogspot.com/
Friday, January 20, 2012
South Korea Lifts Canadian Beef Ban
http://usdavskorea.blogspot.com/2012/01/south-korea-lifts-canadian-beef-ban.html
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Quick facts about mad cow disease
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2012/01/quick-facts-about-mad-cow-disease.html
Terry S. Singeltary Sr. on the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Public Health Crisis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf3lfz9NrT4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0tWkNvhO4g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf3lfz9NrT4&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL780BE2AF0B62A944
full text with source references ;
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/08/terry-singeltary-sr-on-creutzfeldt.html
Geographical BSE risk assessment and its impact on disease detection and dissemination
Original Research Article
Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Available online 1 February 2012,
Mo Salman, Vittorio Silano, Dagmar Heim, Joachim Kreysa
Preventive Veterinary Medicine
1 February 2012
Geographical BSE risk assessment and its impact on disease detection and dissemination
Salman M, Silano V, Heim D, Kreysa J.
Source
Campus Stop 1644, Animal Population Health Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1644, USA.
Abstract
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) rapidly evolved into an issue of major public concern particularly when, in 1996, evidence was provided that this disease had crossed the species barrier and infected humans in the UK with what has become known as "variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease" (vCJD). The aim of this paper is to describe the European Geographical BSE risk assessment (GBR) that was successfully used for assessing the qualitative likelihood that BSE could be present in a country where it was not yet officially recognized. It also discusses how this can lead to risk-based and therefore preventive management of BSE at national and international levels. The basic assumption of the GBR method is that the BSE agent is initially introduced into a country's domestic cattle production system through the importation of contaminated feedstuffs or live cattle. This is referred to as an "external challenge". The ability of the system to cope with such a challenge is, in turn, referred to as its "stability": a stable system will not allow the BSE agent to propagate and amplify following its introduction, while an unstable system will. The BSE-status of a country assessed by this system was used by the European Commission as the basis for trade legislation rules for cattle and their products. The GBR was an invaluable tool in evaluating the potential global spread of BSE as it demonstrated how a disease could be transferred through international trade. This was shown to be a critical factor to address in reducing the spread and amplification of BSE throughout the world. Furthermore, GBR resulted in the implementation of additional measures and management activities both to improve surveillance and to prevent transmission within the cattle population.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587712000244
see more here ;
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2012/02/bovine-spongiform-encephalopathy-bse-31.html
IN SHORT, AND IN A NUT SHELL ;
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 23 May 2006)
11. Information published by the OIE is derived from appropriate declarations made by the official Veterinary Services of Member Countries. The OIE is not responsible for inaccurate publication of country disease status based on inaccurate information or changes in epidemiological status or other significant events that were not promptly reported to the Central Bureau,
http://www.oie.int/eng/Session2007/RF2006.pdf
layperson
Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
P.O. Box 42
Bacliff, Texas USA 77518
flounder9@verizon.net
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Iowa Legislature gives go ahead for more Mad Cow Dead Stock Downer Cows to your children via USDA NSLP
Friday, February 24, 2012
SAMPLE COLLECTION FROM CATTLE UNDER THE BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) ONGOING SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM 2/14/12
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE WASHINGTON, DC FSIS NOTICE
13-12
2/14/12
DISTRIBUTION: Electronic NOTICE EXPIRES: 3/1/13 OPI: OPPD
SAMPLE COLLECTION FROM CATTLE UNDER THE BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) ONGOING SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM
I. PURPOSE
This notice provides Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspection program personnel (IPP) with instructions regarding the collection of brain samples for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) ongoing surveillance program. The contents in this notice were last issued in FSIS Notice 05-10.
II. DEFINITION OF COLLECTION PROCEDURES
A. At federally-inspected slaughter establishments that have approved alternative off-site sample collection arrangements with APHIS:
1. APHIS will provide for the collection of brain (obex) samples from an allocated number of cattle 30 months and older condemned for any reason on ante-mortem inspection and from cattle of any age displaying Central Nervous System (CNS) symptoms.
2. At such establishments, FSIS IPP will provide the following to plant management, to the APHIS Area Veterinarian in Charge (AVIC), and to sample collecting contractors:
a. Condemn tag (Z-tag) numbers (not the Z-tag itself); and
b. Disposition information (i.e., the reason for condemnation under 9 CFR Part 309), including history, clinical signs and the condemnation code assigned.
B. At federally-inspected establishments that do not have approved alternative off-site sample collection arrangements with APHIS, FSIS Public Health Veterinarians (PHVs) are to:
2
1. Notify the APHIS AVIC when an animal has been condemned for CNS reasons and provide the information outlined in II.A.2.
2. If arrangements with the APHIS AVIC cannot be made, collect appropriate BSE samples from cattle of all ages that display CNS symptoms.
NOTE: Certain Alternative Off-Site Agreements that were in place during Enhanced Surveillance may no longer be in effect. Therefore, IPP may need to advise the establishment that they need to establish new agreements with APHIS and potential collectors.
III. FSIS PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Upon receipt of this notice, the FSIS PHV is to ask establishment management whether:
1. It has an approved alternative off-site sample collection arrangement with APHIS for collecting allocated samples (as per paragraph II. A.); or
2. It is not an establishment that has an alternative off-site sample collection arrangement with APHIS. If the establishment does not have such an arrangement, then FSIS is to follow the directions in paragraph II.B.
B. If during the meeting establishment management states that it has submitted an application to APHIS to begin off-site sampling, until APHIS approves that arrangement, FSIS PHVs are to:
1. Identify all CNS animals condemned on ante-mortem with a "U. S. Condemned” tag;
2. If an animal is condemned for this reason, contact the APHIS AVIC and follow the directions in paragraph II.B.;
3. Ensure that the animals are humanely euthanized, unless APHIS requests that the animal not be euthanized; and
4. Not allow any CNS animal condemned on ante-mortem to move off the premises of the establishment until APHIS collects the sample or APHIS requests otherwise.
C. In a memorandum of interview (MOI), the FSIS PHV is to document who was present at the meeting with establishment management, the date and time of the meeting, how the establishment plans to proceed based on the choices set out in A. above, and any documents shared with management.
D. If the establishment states that it has submitted a request to APHIS to begin off-site sampling, the FSIS PHV is to update the MOI as to whether the establishment reached an agreement, and in general, what the agreement was.
E. The FSIS PHV is to maintain a copy of the MOI in the official government file, provide a copy to the plant management, and e-mail a copy to the APHIS AVIC. Any
3
changes in the agreement with APHIS for off-site sample collection are to be reflected in an updated MOI, which is then distributed as above.
IV. FSIS RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO APPROVED ALTERNATIVE OFF-SITE SAMPLE COLLECTION
A. The FSIS PHV is to complete the condemnation form, FSIS Form 6000-13 (Certification of Ante-mortem or Post-mortem Disposition of Tagged Animals), and FSIS Form 6150-1 (Identification Tag – Ante-mortem). The FSIS PHV is to pay special attention when providing a full description of the reason for the condemnation on FSIS Form 6000-13 and fill out fully FSIS Form 6150-1.
B. Incoming animal identification, except the Z-tag, is to be left on these animals to provide needed identifying information on collection forms at the approved alternative off-site collection location. IPP are, or someone under their supervision is to remove Z-tags before any carcasses leave the official establishment.
NOTE: Information supplied to plant management to take to the approved alternative off-site collection locations needs to be complete and accurate. FSIS PHVs need to provide a full description of the reason for the condemnation on FSIS Form 6000-13. APHIS will use this information to triage which condemned animals are sampled.
V. FSIS SAMPLE COLLECTION FOR CATTLE DISPLAYING CNS SYMPTOMS
A. If the establishment does not have an arrangement with APHIS for off-site sampling of cattle with CNS symptoms, the FSIS PHV is to follow the directions in paragraph II.B. The FSIS PHV is to make all final disposition decisions regarding whether to condemn cattle in accordance with 9 CFR part 309.
NOTE: FSIS PHVs can find information regarding BSE sampling (e.g., forms, sampling supply information) on the FSIS intranet under Public Folders, OPPD, PDD, BSE, at:
http://collaboration/sites/InfoExch/OPPD/default.aspx?RootFolder=%2fsites%2fInfoExch%2fOPPD%2fOPPD%2fPDD%2fBSE%20Training%20Info&FolderCTID=&View=%7b6F518F12%2d11E4%2d4A8C%2dB891%2dAACB8FDD96BD%7d
Additional BSE sampling information is provided on the APHIS website at:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/lab_info_services/downloads/BSE_Procedures_Manual.pdf
B. If the responsibility to collect the BSE sample falls to the FSIS PHV, the FSIS PHV, or the establishment under the supervision of the FSIS PHV, is to promptly remove the head in order to collect the brain sample. If the establishment does not arrange to remove the head, the FSIS PHV may need to collect the brain sample as a priority over other ante-mortem or post-mortem procedures.
4
C. The FSIS PHV, being mindful of other potential CNS disease conditions of public health significance that may be present, is to collect the brain sample either in the inedible area of the establishment or in an isolated area set aside for such collection to prevent human exposure or the creation of insanitary conditions. Establishment personnel and FSIS IPP are to take proper sanitary measures before returning to edible areas of the establishment after brain sample collection, in accordance with 9 CFR 416.5.
D. In situations where the FSIS PHV has missed the last UPS pick-up for the day, or the FSIS PHV collected the sample on a day when UPS does not pick up, the PHV is to refrigerate the samples until the next available UPS pick-up day. Remember, the sample is not to pass through or to be stored in areas of the establishment where the establishment produces edible product. The FSIS PHV is to maintain the sample’s chain-of-custody.
E. The FSIS PHV is to verify the collection, documentation, and control of all animal identification associated with cattle condemned during ante-mortem inspection that are to be sampled by FSIS. The FSIS PHV is to attach the “U. S. Condemned” tag to cattle condemned during ante-mortem inspection in accordance with 9 CFR 309.13. This documentation will facilitate traceback in the event that the sample result is positive for BSE. The FSIS PHV is to include in the documentation all pertinent information to facilitate trace back of the animal in question in accordance with 9 CFR 320.1.
F. The FSIS PHV is to verify that the presence of condemned cattle or parts does not create insanitary conditions (9 CFR Part 416). The establishment is responsible for the disposal of the condemned cattle in accordance with 9 CFR part 314. The FSIS PHV also is to verify that the establishment maintains records regarding the disposal of the condemned cattle in accordance with 9 CFR 320.1.
G. IPP may inform the establishment that it may choose to hold the carcass and parts until testing results are available. If the establishment chooses to dispose of any carcass or parts before it receives test results, IPP are to advise the establishment that it must dispose of the carcass in one of the following ways:
1. Render it at a facility for non-animal feed use (e.g., biofuel or cement);
2. Alkaline digestion;
3. Incineration; or
4. Lined landfills.
H. Documentation for Cattle Showing Signs of CNS Symptoms
1. For locations without high-speed internet connections, the FSIS PHV is to forward the completed BSE Veterinary Services Laboratory Submissions (BSE-VSLS) sample collection sheets to the corresponding APHIS,VS area office by FAX or by e-mail. The following site lists the VS office FAX numbers and e-mail where available:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/downloads/vsavic.pdf
5
NOTE: The FSIS PHV can get copies of BSE-VSLS forms by contacting the local APHIS office. The APHIS AVIC in each area office may assist with sample delivery verification and troubleshooting.
2. For locations with high-speed connections, the FSIS PHV is to enter the relevant information into the BSE-VSLS.
NOTE: FSIS PHVs can refer to the BSE-VSLS training for assistance getting access to BSE-VSLS and inputting information. The FSIS PHV may contact the District Office (DO) if he or she needs a copy of the training CD.
VI. TEST RESULTS FOR FSIS SAMPLING FROM CATTLE SHOWING CNS SYMPTOMS
A. The FSIS PHV will receive, by e-mail, a report from the AVIC on the BSE test results. The AVIC will also send copies of the results to the DO.
B. If the test on the carcass condemned for CNS conditions is negative (reported as “not detected”), then any carcasses and parts the establishment has held may be released for rendering or other disposal in accordance with 9 CFR 314. C. If the test is inconclusive, the FSIS PHV will receive supervisory instruction on further actions.
D. For any sample confirmed positive for BSE, the FSIS PHV is to verify that the establishment disposes of the carcasses and parts in the proper manner as set out in paragraph V. G.
VII. PHIS PROCEDURES FOR BSE SAMPLING FROM CATTLE SHOWING CNS SIGNS
A. Enter disposition information into PHIS in ADR.
B. Enter BSE sampling information into the ADR APHIS Lab Sampling page in ADR.
VIII. RABIES
A. When an animal is condemned by the FSIS PHV on ante-mortem for rabies, the FSIS PHV is to contact the DO, which will advise APHIS. In these cases, APHIS will see that the animal is tested for rabies. APHIS will work with the laboratory to get appropriate samples forwarded for BSE surveillance from rabies negative animals.
B. Rabies booster vaccination for PHVs collecting BSE samples is still highly recommended. PHVs can be reimbursed for rabies vaccinations or boosters. Rabies vaccinations are voluntary. Only PHVs who are actually involved with BSE sample collection will be eligible for reimbursement on the vaccination series. PHVs are to make
6
arrangements for the vaccinations with their private physician. PHVs are to contact their Front-line supervisor for approval on reimbursement prior to beginning the three shot vaccination series. Refer questions regarding this notice to the Policy Development Division through askFSIS at http://askfsis.custhelp.com or by telephone at 1-800-233-3935.
Assistant Administrator
Office of Policy and Program Development
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/13-12.pdf
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
IN CONFIDENCE
The information contained herein should not be disseminated further except on the basis of "NEED TO KNOW".
BSE - ATYPICAL LESION DISTRIBUTION (RBSE 92-21367) statutory (obex only) diagnostic criteria CVL 1992
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2010/11/bse-atypical-lesion-distribution-rbse.html
2009 UPDATE ON ALABAMA AND TEXAS MAD COWS 2005 and 2006
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2006/08/bse-atypical-texas-and-alabama-update.html
U.S.A. 50 STATE BSE MAD COW CONFERENCE CALL Jan. 9, 2001
http://tseac.blogspot.com/2011/02/usa-50-state-bse-mad-cow-conference.html
Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Update, October 31, 2005 INTRODUCTION The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) held a public meeting on July 25, 2006 in Washington, D.C. to present findings from the Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Update, October 31, 2005 (report and model located on the FSIS website:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Risk_Assessments/index.asp).
Comments on technical aspects of the risk assessment were then submitted to FSIS.
Comments were received from Food and Water Watch, Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT), Farm Sanctuary, R-CALF USA, Linda A Detwiler, and Terry S. Singeltary.
This document provides itemized replies to the public comments received on the 2005 updated Harvard BSE risk assessment. Please bear the following points in mind:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/BSE_Risk_Assess_Response_Public_Comments.pdf
Owens, Julie From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. [flounder9@verizon.net]
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 1:09 PM
To: FSIS RegulationsComments
Subject: [Docket No. FSIS-2006-0011] FSIS Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Page 1 of 98
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/Comments/2006-0011/2006-0011-1.pdf
FSIS, USDA, REPLY TO SINGELTARY
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/BSE_Risk_Assess_Response_Public_Comments.pdf
Monday, October 10, 2011
EFSA Journal 2011 The European Response to BSE: A Success Story
snip...
EFSA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recently delivered a scientific opinion on any possible epidemiological or molecular association between TSEs in animals and humans (EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) and ECDC, 2011). This opinion confirmed Classical BSE prions as the only TSE agents demonstrated to be zoonotic so far but the possibility that a small proportion of human cases so far classified as "sporadic" CJD are of zoonotic origin could not be excluded. Moreover, transmission experiments to non-human primates suggest that some TSE agents in addition to Classical BSE prions in cattle (namely L-type Atypical BSE, Classical BSE in sheep, transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) and chronic wasting disease (CWD) agents) might have zoonotic potential.
snip...
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/e991.htm?emt=1
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/e991.pdf
see follow-up here about North America BSE Mad Cow TSE prion risk factors, and the ever emerging strains of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy in many species here in the USA, including humans ;
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/10/efsa-journal-2011-european-response-to.html
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Seven main threats for the future linked to prions
First threat
The TSE road map defining the evolution of European policy for protection against prion diseases is based on a certain numbers of hypotheses some of which may turn out to be erroneous. In particular, a form of BSE (called atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), recently identified by systematic testing in aged cattle without clinical signs, may be the origin of classical BSE and thus potentially constitute a reservoir, which may be impossible to eradicate if a sporadic origin is confirmed.
***Also, a link is suspected between atypical BSE and some apparently sporadic cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. These atypical BSE cases constitute an unforeseen first threat that could sharply modify the European approach to prion diseases.
Second threat
snip...
http://www.neuroprion.org/en/np-neuroprion.html
Sunday, November 13, 2011
California BSE mad cow beef recall, QFC, CJD, and dead stock downer livestock
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/11/california-bse-mad-cow-beef-recall-qfc.html
Terry S. Singeltary Sr. on the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Public Health Crisis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf3lfz9NrT4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0tWkNvhO4g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf3lfz9NrT4&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL780BE2AF0B62A944
full text with source references ;
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/08/terry-singeltary-sr-on-creutzfeldt.html
Friday, February 10, 2012
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) biannual update (2012/1) potential iatrogenic (healthcare-acquired) exposure to CJD, and on the National Anonymous Tonsil Archive
http://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2012/02/creutzfeldt-jakob-disease-cjd-biannual.html
Sunday, February 12, 2012
National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center Cases Examined1 (August 19, 2011) including Texas
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2012/02/national-prion-disease-pathology.html
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Transmissibility of BSE-L and Cattle-Adapted TME Prion Strain to Cynomolgus Macaque
"BSE-L in North America may have existed for decades"
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/06/transmissibility-of-bse-l-and-cattle.html
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Risk Analysis of Low-Dose Prion Exposures in Cynomolgus Macaque
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/06/risk-analysis-of-low-dose-prion.html
Friday, December 23, 2011
Oral Transmission of L-type Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in Primate Model
Volume 18, Number 1—January 2012 Dispatch
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/12/oral-transmission-of-l-type-bovine.html
TSS
13-12
2/14/12
DISTRIBUTION: Electronic NOTICE EXPIRES: 3/1/13 OPI: OPPD
SAMPLE COLLECTION FROM CATTLE UNDER THE BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) ONGOING SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM
I. PURPOSE
This notice provides Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspection program personnel (IPP) with instructions regarding the collection of brain samples for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) ongoing surveillance program. The contents in this notice were last issued in FSIS Notice 05-10.
II. DEFINITION OF COLLECTION PROCEDURES
A. At federally-inspected slaughter establishments that have approved alternative off-site sample collection arrangements with APHIS:
1. APHIS will provide for the collection of brain (obex) samples from an allocated number of cattle 30 months and older condemned for any reason on ante-mortem inspection and from cattle of any age displaying Central Nervous System (CNS) symptoms.
2. At such establishments, FSIS IPP will provide the following to plant management, to the APHIS Area Veterinarian in Charge (AVIC), and to sample collecting contractors:
a. Condemn tag (Z-tag) numbers (not the Z-tag itself); and
b. Disposition information (i.e., the reason for condemnation under 9 CFR Part 309), including history, clinical signs and the condemnation code assigned.
B. At federally-inspected establishments that do not have approved alternative off-site sample collection arrangements with APHIS, FSIS Public Health Veterinarians (PHVs) are to:
2
1. Notify the APHIS AVIC when an animal has been condemned for CNS reasons and provide the information outlined in II.A.2.
2. If arrangements with the APHIS AVIC cannot be made, collect appropriate BSE samples from cattle of all ages that display CNS symptoms.
NOTE: Certain Alternative Off-Site Agreements that were in place during Enhanced Surveillance may no longer be in effect. Therefore, IPP may need to advise the establishment that they need to establish new agreements with APHIS and potential collectors.
III. FSIS PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Upon receipt of this notice, the FSIS PHV is to ask establishment management whether:
1. It has an approved alternative off-site sample collection arrangement with APHIS for collecting allocated samples (as per paragraph II. A.); or
2. It is not an establishment that has an alternative off-site sample collection arrangement with APHIS. If the establishment does not have such an arrangement, then FSIS is to follow the directions in paragraph II.B.
B. If during the meeting establishment management states that it has submitted an application to APHIS to begin off-site sampling, until APHIS approves that arrangement, FSIS PHVs are to:
1. Identify all CNS animals condemned on ante-mortem with a "U. S. Condemned” tag;
2. If an animal is condemned for this reason, contact the APHIS AVIC and follow the directions in paragraph II.B.;
3. Ensure that the animals are humanely euthanized, unless APHIS requests that the animal not be euthanized; and
4. Not allow any CNS animal condemned on ante-mortem to move off the premises of the establishment until APHIS collects the sample or APHIS requests otherwise.
C. In a memorandum of interview (MOI), the FSIS PHV is to document who was present at the meeting with establishment management, the date and time of the meeting, how the establishment plans to proceed based on the choices set out in A. above, and any documents shared with management.
D. If the establishment states that it has submitted a request to APHIS to begin off-site sampling, the FSIS PHV is to update the MOI as to whether the establishment reached an agreement, and in general, what the agreement was.
E. The FSIS PHV is to maintain a copy of the MOI in the official government file, provide a copy to the plant management, and e-mail a copy to the APHIS AVIC. Any
3
changes in the agreement with APHIS for off-site sample collection are to be reflected in an updated MOI, which is then distributed as above.
IV. FSIS RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO APPROVED ALTERNATIVE OFF-SITE SAMPLE COLLECTION
A. The FSIS PHV is to complete the condemnation form, FSIS Form 6000-13 (Certification of Ante-mortem or Post-mortem Disposition of Tagged Animals), and FSIS Form 6150-1 (Identification Tag – Ante-mortem). The FSIS PHV is to pay special attention when providing a full description of the reason for the condemnation on FSIS Form 6000-13 and fill out fully FSIS Form 6150-1.
B. Incoming animal identification, except the Z-tag, is to be left on these animals to provide needed identifying information on collection forms at the approved alternative off-site collection location. IPP are, or someone under their supervision is to remove Z-tags before any carcasses leave the official establishment.
NOTE: Information supplied to plant management to take to the approved alternative off-site collection locations needs to be complete and accurate. FSIS PHVs need to provide a full description of the reason for the condemnation on FSIS Form 6000-13. APHIS will use this information to triage which condemned animals are sampled.
V. FSIS SAMPLE COLLECTION FOR CATTLE DISPLAYING CNS SYMPTOMS
A. If the establishment does not have an arrangement with APHIS for off-site sampling of cattle with CNS symptoms, the FSIS PHV is to follow the directions in paragraph II.B. The FSIS PHV is to make all final disposition decisions regarding whether to condemn cattle in accordance with 9 CFR part 309.
NOTE: FSIS PHVs can find information regarding BSE sampling (e.g., forms, sampling supply information) on the FSIS intranet under Public Folders, OPPD, PDD, BSE, at:
http://collaboration/sites/InfoExch/OPPD/default.aspx?RootFolder=%2fsites%2fInfoExch%2fOPPD%2fOPPD%2fPDD%2fBSE%20Training%20Info&FolderCTID=&View=%7b6F518F12%2d11E4%2d4A8C%2dB891%2dAACB8FDD96BD%7d
Additional BSE sampling information is provided on the APHIS website at:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/lab_info_services/downloads/BSE_Procedures_Manual.pdf
B. If the responsibility to collect the BSE sample falls to the FSIS PHV, the FSIS PHV, or the establishment under the supervision of the FSIS PHV, is to promptly remove the head in order to collect the brain sample. If the establishment does not arrange to remove the head, the FSIS PHV may need to collect the brain sample as a priority over other ante-mortem or post-mortem procedures.
4
C. The FSIS PHV, being mindful of other potential CNS disease conditions of public health significance that may be present, is to collect the brain sample either in the inedible area of the establishment or in an isolated area set aside for such collection to prevent human exposure or the creation of insanitary conditions. Establishment personnel and FSIS IPP are to take proper sanitary measures before returning to edible areas of the establishment after brain sample collection, in accordance with 9 CFR 416.5.
D. In situations where the FSIS PHV has missed the last UPS pick-up for the day, or the FSIS PHV collected the sample on a day when UPS does not pick up, the PHV is to refrigerate the samples until the next available UPS pick-up day. Remember, the sample is not to pass through or to be stored in areas of the establishment where the establishment produces edible product. The FSIS PHV is to maintain the sample’s chain-of-custody.
E. The FSIS PHV is to verify the collection, documentation, and control of all animal identification associated with cattle condemned during ante-mortem inspection that are to be sampled by FSIS. The FSIS PHV is to attach the “U. S. Condemned” tag to cattle condemned during ante-mortem inspection in accordance with 9 CFR 309.13. This documentation will facilitate traceback in the event that the sample result is positive for BSE. The FSIS PHV is to include in the documentation all pertinent information to facilitate trace back of the animal in question in accordance with 9 CFR 320.1.
F. The FSIS PHV is to verify that the presence of condemned cattle or parts does not create insanitary conditions (9 CFR Part 416). The establishment is responsible for the disposal of the condemned cattle in accordance with 9 CFR part 314. The FSIS PHV also is to verify that the establishment maintains records regarding the disposal of the condemned cattle in accordance with 9 CFR 320.1.
G. IPP may inform the establishment that it may choose to hold the carcass and parts until testing results are available. If the establishment chooses to dispose of any carcass or parts before it receives test results, IPP are to advise the establishment that it must dispose of the carcass in one of the following ways:
1. Render it at a facility for non-animal feed use (e.g., biofuel or cement);
2. Alkaline digestion;
3. Incineration; or
4. Lined landfills.
H. Documentation for Cattle Showing Signs of CNS Symptoms
1. For locations without high-speed internet connections, the FSIS PHV is to forward the completed BSE Veterinary Services Laboratory Submissions (BSE-VSLS) sample collection sheets to the corresponding APHIS,VS area office by FAX or by e-mail. The following site lists the VS office FAX numbers and e-mail where available:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/downloads/vsavic.pdf
5
NOTE: The FSIS PHV can get copies of BSE-VSLS forms by contacting the local APHIS office. The APHIS AVIC in each area office may assist with sample delivery verification and troubleshooting.
2. For locations with high-speed connections, the FSIS PHV is to enter the relevant information into the BSE-VSLS.
NOTE: FSIS PHVs can refer to the BSE-VSLS training for assistance getting access to BSE-VSLS and inputting information. The FSIS PHV may contact the District Office (DO) if he or she needs a copy of the training CD.
VI. TEST RESULTS FOR FSIS SAMPLING FROM CATTLE SHOWING CNS SYMPTOMS
A. The FSIS PHV will receive, by e-mail, a report from the AVIC on the BSE test results. The AVIC will also send copies of the results to the DO.
B. If the test on the carcass condemned for CNS conditions is negative (reported as “not detected”), then any carcasses and parts the establishment has held may be released for rendering or other disposal in accordance with 9 CFR 314. C. If the test is inconclusive, the FSIS PHV will receive supervisory instruction on further actions.
D. For any sample confirmed positive for BSE, the FSIS PHV is to verify that the establishment disposes of the carcasses and parts in the proper manner as set out in paragraph V. G.
VII. PHIS PROCEDURES FOR BSE SAMPLING FROM CATTLE SHOWING CNS SIGNS
A. Enter disposition information into PHIS in ADR.
B. Enter BSE sampling information into the ADR APHIS Lab Sampling page in ADR.
VIII. RABIES
A. When an animal is condemned by the FSIS PHV on ante-mortem for rabies, the FSIS PHV is to contact the DO, which will advise APHIS. In these cases, APHIS will see that the animal is tested for rabies. APHIS will work with the laboratory to get appropriate samples forwarded for BSE surveillance from rabies negative animals.
B. Rabies booster vaccination for PHVs collecting BSE samples is still highly recommended. PHVs can be reimbursed for rabies vaccinations or boosters. Rabies vaccinations are voluntary. Only PHVs who are actually involved with BSE sample collection will be eligible for reimbursement on the vaccination series. PHVs are to make
6
arrangements for the vaccinations with their private physician. PHVs are to contact their Front-line supervisor for approval on reimbursement prior to beginning the three shot vaccination series. Refer questions regarding this notice to the Policy Development Division through askFSIS at http://askfsis.custhelp.com or by telephone at 1-800-233-3935.
Assistant Administrator
Office of Policy and Program Development
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/13-12.pdf
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
IN CONFIDENCE
The information contained herein should not be disseminated further except on the basis of "NEED TO KNOW".
BSE - ATYPICAL LESION DISTRIBUTION (RBSE 92-21367) statutory (obex only) diagnostic criteria CVL 1992
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2010/11/bse-atypical-lesion-distribution-rbse.html
2009 UPDATE ON ALABAMA AND TEXAS MAD COWS 2005 and 2006
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2006/08/bse-atypical-texas-and-alabama-update.html
U.S.A. 50 STATE BSE MAD COW CONFERENCE CALL Jan. 9, 2001
http://tseac.blogspot.com/2011/02/usa-50-state-bse-mad-cow-conference.html
Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Update, October 31, 2005 INTRODUCTION The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) held a public meeting on July 25, 2006 in Washington, D.C. to present findings from the Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Update, October 31, 2005 (report and model located on the FSIS website:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Risk_Assessments/index.asp).
Comments on technical aspects of the risk assessment were then submitted to FSIS.
Comments were received from Food and Water Watch, Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT), Farm Sanctuary, R-CALF USA, Linda A Detwiler, and Terry S. Singeltary.
This document provides itemized replies to the public comments received on the 2005 updated Harvard BSE risk assessment. Please bear the following points in mind:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/BSE_Risk_Assess_Response_Public_Comments.pdf
Owens, Julie From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. [flounder9@verizon.net]
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 1:09 PM
To: FSIS RegulationsComments
Subject: [Docket No. FSIS-2006-0011] FSIS Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Page 1 of 98
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/Comments/2006-0011/2006-0011-1.pdf
FSIS, USDA, REPLY TO SINGELTARY
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/BSE_Risk_Assess_Response_Public_Comments.pdf
Monday, October 10, 2011
EFSA Journal 2011 The European Response to BSE: A Success Story
snip...
EFSA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recently delivered a scientific opinion on any possible epidemiological or molecular association between TSEs in animals and humans (EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) and ECDC, 2011). This opinion confirmed Classical BSE prions as the only TSE agents demonstrated to be zoonotic so far but the possibility that a small proportion of human cases so far classified as "sporadic" CJD are of zoonotic origin could not be excluded. Moreover, transmission experiments to non-human primates suggest that some TSE agents in addition to Classical BSE prions in cattle (namely L-type Atypical BSE, Classical BSE in sheep, transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) and chronic wasting disease (CWD) agents) might have zoonotic potential.
snip...
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/e991.htm?emt=1
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/e991.pdf
see follow-up here about North America BSE Mad Cow TSE prion risk factors, and the ever emerging strains of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy in many species here in the USA, including humans ;
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/10/efsa-journal-2011-european-response-to.html
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Seven main threats for the future linked to prions
First threat
The TSE road map defining the evolution of European policy for protection against prion diseases is based on a certain numbers of hypotheses some of which may turn out to be erroneous. In particular, a form of BSE (called atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), recently identified by systematic testing in aged cattle without clinical signs, may be the origin of classical BSE and thus potentially constitute a reservoir, which may be impossible to eradicate if a sporadic origin is confirmed.
***Also, a link is suspected between atypical BSE and some apparently sporadic cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. These atypical BSE cases constitute an unforeseen first threat that could sharply modify the European approach to prion diseases.
Second threat
snip...
http://www.neuroprion.org/en/np-neuroprion.html
Sunday, November 13, 2011
California BSE mad cow beef recall, QFC, CJD, and dead stock downer livestock
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/11/california-bse-mad-cow-beef-recall-qfc.html
Terry S. Singeltary Sr. on the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Public Health Crisis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf3lfz9NrT4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0tWkNvhO4g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf3lfz9NrT4&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL780BE2AF0B62A944
full text with source references ;
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/08/terry-singeltary-sr-on-creutzfeldt.html
Friday, February 10, 2012
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) biannual update (2012/1) potential iatrogenic (healthcare-acquired) exposure to CJD, and on the National Anonymous Tonsil Archive
http://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2012/02/creutzfeldt-jakob-disease-cjd-biannual.html
Sunday, February 12, 2012
National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center Cases Examined1 (August 19, 2011) including Texas
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2012/02/national-prion-disease-pathology.html
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Transmissibility of BSE-L and Cattle-Adapted TME Prion Strain to Cynomolgus Macaque
"BSE-L in North America may have existed for decades"
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/06/transmissibility-of-bse-l-and-cattle.html
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Risk Analysis of Low-Dose Prion Exposures in Cynomolgus Macaque
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/06/risk-analysis-of-low-dose-prion.html
Friday, December 23, 2011
Oral Transmission of L-type Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in Primate Model
Volume 18, Number 1—January 2012 Dispatch
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/12/oral-transmission-of-l-type-bovine.html
TSS
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Annual reports of Member States on BSE and Scrapie 2010 excluding North America (for obvious reasons i.e. corruption)
BSE/Scrapie - TSE in Goats
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
White House budget proposes cuts to ag programs including TSE PRION disease aka mad cow type disease
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE
31 USA SENATORS ASK PRESIDENT OBAMA TO HELP SPREAD MAD COW DISEASE 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
EIGHT FORMER SECRETARIES OF AGRICULTURE SPEAKING AT USDA'S 2012 AGRICULTURE OUTLOOK FORUM INDUCTED INTO USA MAD COW HALL OF SHAME
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Atypical Scrapie NOR-98 confirmed Alberta Canada sheep January 2012
snip...
RESEARCH
Emerging Infectious Diseases • www.cdc.gov/eid • Vol. 17, No. 5, May 2011
Experimental Oral Transmission of Atypical Scrapie to Sheep
Marion M. Simmons, S. Jo Moore,1 Timm Konold, Lisa Thurston, Linda A. Terry, Leigh Thorne, Richard Lockey, Chris Vickery, Stephen A.C. Hawkins, Melanie J. Chaplin, and John Spiropoulos
To investigate the possibility of oral transmission of atypical scrapie in sheep and determine the distribution of infectivity in the animals’ peripheral tissues, we challenged neonatal lambs orally with atypical scrapie; they were then killed at 12 or 24 months. Screening test results were negative for disease-specifi c prion protein in all but 2 recipients; they had positive results for examination of brain, but negative for peripheral tissues. Infectivity of brain, distal ileum, and spleen from all animals was assessed in mouse bioassays; positive results were obtained from tissues that had negative results on screening. These fi ndings demonstrate that atypical scrapie can be transmitted orally and indicate that it has the potential for natural transmission and iatrogenic spread through animal feed. Detection of infectivity in tissues negative by current surveillance methods indicates that diagnostic sensitivity is suboptimal for atypical scrapie, and potentially infectious material may be able to pass into the human food chain.
SNIP...
Although we do not have epidemiologic evidence that supports the effi cient spread of disease in the fi eld, these data imply that disease is potentially transmissible under fi eld situations and that spread through animal feed may be possible if the current feed restrictions were to be relaxed. Additionally, almost no data are available on the potential for atypical scrapie to transmit to other food animal species, certainly by the oral route. However, work with transgenic mice has demonstrated the potential susceptibility of pigs, with the disturbing fi nding that the biochemical properties of the resulting PrPSc have changed on transmission (40). The implications of this observation for subsequent transmission and host target range are currently unknown.
How reassuring is this absence of detectable PrPSc from a public health perspective? The bioassays performed in this study are not titrations, so the infectious load of the positive gut tissues cannot be quantifi ed, although infectivity has been shown unequivocally. No experimental data are currently available on the zoonotic potential of atypical scrapie, either through experimental challenge of humanized mice or any meaningful epidemiologic correlation with human forms of TSE. However, the detection of infectivity in the distal ileum of animals as young as 12 months, in which all the tissues tested were negative for PrPSc by the currently available screening and confi rmatory diagnostic tests, indicates that the diagnostic sensitivity of current surveillance methods is suboptimal for detecting atypical scrapie and that potentially infectious material may be able to pass into the human food chain undetected.
Emerging Infectious Diseases • www.cdc.gov/eid • Vol. 17, No. 5, May 2011
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/17/5/pdfs/10-1654.pdf
OIE Scrapie Chapter Revision • Current draft recognizes Nor98-like scrapie as a separate disease from classical scrapie • USDA provided comments on the draft to OIE
Atypical scrapie/Nor 98 October 2009
Last year, after examining member country submissions and investigating rigorous scientific research, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) decided that Nor 98 should not be listed in its Terrestrial Animal Health Code. The Code sets out trade recommendations or restrictions for listed diseases or conditions, and the OIE determined there was no need for such recommendations around Nor 98.
Sutton reported that USDA has urged the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to categorize Nor98-like scrapie as a separate disease from classical scrapie. Currently, the OIE has proposed a draft revision of their scrapie chapter that would exclude Nor98-like scrapie from the chapter. USDA will be submitting it's comments on this proposal soon.
snip...
Monday, November 30, 2009
USDA AND OIE COLLABORATE TO EXCLUDE ATYPICAL SCRAPIE NOR-98 ANIMAL HEALTH CODE
Sunday, February 12, 2012
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