First cases of BSE in Finland and Austria

14 December 2001




First cases of BSE in Finland and Austria

FINLAND and Austria have reported their first cases of BSE, ending special concessions they enjoyed in respect of European Union testing and disease controls.

The Finnish discovery followed tests on a six-year-old native dairy cow that was subjected to emergency slaughter earlier this month. All bovines on the farm of origin, plus cohorts and progeny, were destroyed. The Austrian case is still to be confirmed, but officials say there is little chance of it being anything other than BSE.

It is understood that Finnish animal had never been fed meat and bonemeal, raising questions about how it became infected. Speculation this week suggested the BSE may have come from contaminated animal fats imported from eastern Europe and used in compound feeds.

Having lost its BSE-free status, Finland will have to test all over 30-month cattle, up to 125,000 animals, before they will be allowed into the food chain. Only about 3% of the national herd, up to 25,000 cows, is curently tested annually.

Finland must also ban T-bone steaks from animals over 12 months old. After the announcement, neighbouring Estonia imposed an immediate five-year ban on imports of live cattle and beef from Finland. The appearance of BSE in Finland and Austria means only Sweden remains free of the disease in the EU.

Ireland has found 53 cases in November alone, its highest ever monthly figure. &#42


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