Evidence-based decision making: the Australian BSE policy and its implementation

In the wake of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic, the Australia Government implemented blanket measures in 2001 to protect the Australia public. The measures prohibited imports of beef products from any... [ view full abstract ]

In the wake of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic, the Australia Government implemented blanket measures in 2001 to protect the Australia public. The measures prohibited imports of beef products from any country that had reported any case of BSE. An Australian review of scientific evidence on the latest understanding on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), blood-borne transmission of vCJD, the adequacy of the BSE control measures in BSE affected countries, the framework put in place for BSE by the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the evolving new policies on BSE prevention and controls in the United Kingdom and other European countries, concluded that the risk to human health from imported beef products is extremely low provided the appropriate risk mitigation strategies are put in place. Based on the findings of this review, the Australian Government revised its BSE food safety policy in 2009 which permitted import of beef products from any country that applies and is able to demonstrate the country has in place, and appropriately monitors, controls necessary to ensure that beef products exported to Australia are derived from animals free of BSE.

In assessing the applicant country’s system which prevents the BSE agent from entering the human food chain, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) examines the BSE and TSE legislation of and the implementation of the BSE/TSE control measures in the applicant country in relation to: import of commodities containing bovine protein into, and feed production and supply, cattle slaughtering practices, BSE awareness and surveillance, food safety controls, and traceability of cattle and beef products of the applicant country. BSE food safety status of the applicant country is assigned based on the findings of the above assessment together with the outcome of an in-country audit that verifies the effectiveness of the implementation of the BSE/TSE control measures in the applicant country.

The above evidence-based decision making justifies the welcome and acceptance by the applicant countries of the BSE food safety risk statuses assigned by FSANZ. Since the implementation of the revised policy, Australia has assigned favourable BSE food safety status to 13 of the 16 applicant countries.