• Diseases
• Bovine Johne's Disease
• Bovine Respiratory Disease
• Calf scours
• Ovine Johne's disease
• Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathys
  • Scrapie

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathys

Transmissable Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) is a generic term for diseases which produce brain lesions resulting in nervous symptoms being exhibited by affected animals. The 2 major diseases of concern are scrapie in sheep and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), also known as 'mad cow' disease in cattle. Australia is free of BSE and Scrapie.

Transmissable Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) surveillance

This disease free status has been backed by the recent finding of the European Commission Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) in granting Australia the highest possible category of BSE freedom.

To maintain market access to the European market (EU), there is a requirement to demonstrate at a statistical significance level, that sampling and testing of animals showing nervous disorders confirms the absence of these diseases.

The current TSE surveillance program meets the international standards set by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) - the world organisation for animal health and has been in place for 3 years. All results have been negative.

The practice of feeding mammalian by-products to ruminants is banned in Australia, in all States and the NT and substantial penalties are in place to prevent breaches.

Australian consumers can continue to eat red meat products with every confidence.

See also BSE - a guide to ruminant feeding

More information and results are available at:

• Animal Health Australia - National Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) Surveillance Program