China Free of Mad Cow Disease: Ministry of Agriculture

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, June 18, 2002

China Free of Mad Cow Disease: Ministry of Agriculture

China is free of mad cow disease, formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), according to the latest report from the Ministry of Agriculture. Since 1990, the Chinese government has taken a series of measures to prevent the introduction of mad cow disease and made great achievements.

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China is free of mad cow disease, formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), according to the latest report from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The report said, the ministry conducted a nation-wide BSE risk investigation, as requested by the Organization of International Animal Health (OIE), covering over 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China last year.

The examinations were conducted in line with OIE standards of animal health, tracing all cattle imported after 1990 and their embryos and descendants.

Results showed that all the 1,863 cattle brain samples collected from feedlots and slaughterhouses throughout the country turned out to be negative for the BSE.

Achievements China makes to prevent mad cow disease

According to OIE regulations, a scientific examination of BSE should consist of results of both passive and pro-active examinations.

From 1997 to 2000, China mainly used passive examinations, with local veterinarians submitting cattle brain samples to national labs. A ministry official said those samples all tested negative.

In 2001, the ministry started pro-active supervision and control of BSE, said the official.

Since 1990, the Chinese government has taken a series of measures to prevent the introduction of mad cow disease, including banning all imports of cattle and related products from disease- infected countries, and prohibiting feed made from animal produce for ruminants.

Ministry officials said that China would continue to intensify the supervision of BSE by carrying out pro-active examinations, and the cattle imported after 1990 and their embryos and descendants would remain the major target of examinations in the long run.

Mad cow disease was first found in Britain in 1986 and may cause a similar ailment in humans known as Creutzfeld-Jacob disease.

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