Adequate surveillance forms the basis for successful detection, control and eradication of TSEs. Since May 1998, EU-wide measures on surveillance have been in place. Each Member State has to carry out an annual monitoring programme for TSEs based on active surveillance (testing without previous suspicion) and passive surveillance (testing of clinical suspects identified by veterinarians/farmers) which applies to both bovine animals and ovine and caprine animals. The monitoring programme provides a reliable insight into the prevalence and evolution of TSEs in the Member States and at the same time ensures that no BSE cases are being slaughtered for human consumption. See Annexes III and X to the TSE Regulation.

Since the start of an expanded monitoring programme on BSE in 2001, more than 70 million cattle have been tested in EU, in addition to those tested as BSE suspects. The number of positive cases in 2008 (126 cases) has continued to decrease compared to previous years: 2007 (175), 2006 (320), 2005 (561), 2004 (865), 2003 (1376), 2002 (2124) and 2001 (2167). This consistent fall proves the effect of the strict EU measures put in place. However, a complete eradication of BSE will still take years, given its long incubation period. As for sheep and goats, over 3,9 000 000 sheep and 1,1 000 000 goats have been tested in the EU during 2002-2008, of which 15 690 sheep and 3336 goats were positive. In a three-year EU survey related to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in cervids (2006-2008) all 10 843 tested cervids were negative.

BSE-monitoring of bovine animals

The active surveillance covers testing of two categories of bovine animals:
(1.) Risk animals over 24 months of age, which either are not slaughtered for human consumption, such as fallen stock which have died or been killed, but not in the framework of an epidemic, or are emergency slaughtered animals or animals with clinical observations at the ante mortem inspection preceding slaughter. All animals in this target group must be tested, but there is a possibility for a derogation covering max 10 % of the bovine population in remote areas where no collection of dead-on-farm bovine animals is organised.
(2.) Healthy slaughtered animals over 30 months of age. All animals in this target group must be tested.
However, based on a favourable epidemiological situation certain Member States have been authorised to apply a revised annual BSE monitoring programme and test only animals over 48 months of age in both target groups provided that the animals have been born in those Member States. See Commission Decision 2008/908/EC.

The passive surveillance consists of testing animals identified as BSE suspects by the veterinarian or the farmer.

TSE monitoring of ovine and caprine animals

The active surveillance covers testing of three categories of sheep and goats:
(1.) Animals over 18 months of age which are not slaughtered for human consumption, such as fallen stock, which have died or been killed, but not in the framework of an epidemic. There are minimum sample sizes for both ovine and caprine animals.
(2.) Animals culled in the framework of TSE eradication and animals from infected herds where the culling measures have been delayed.
(3.) Healthy animals over 18 months of age slaughtered for human consumption. Only Member States with major ovine or caprine populations are required to test an annual minimum sample size of such animals.

The passive surveillance consists of testing animals identified as TSE suspects by the veterinarian or the farmer. See Annex III to the TSE Regulation.

TSE monitoring in other animal species

A survey for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cervids was carried out during 2006-2008. See Commission Decision 2007/182/EC.
No positive cases were found. The TSE Regulation includes a provision requiring the examination of TSE suspicions in all animal species. Active monitoring in species other than bovine, ovine, caprine and cervid animals is voluntary and without further specifications.

Report and Studies

Annual reports of Member States on the monitoring and testing of ruminants for the presence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in the EU provide an overview of the monitoring results and epidemiology of TSEs, which assists the development of policy for the protection of human and animal health.

Monthly reports of Member States on BSE and Scrapie contain the information forwarded to the Commission on a monthly basis.

Third country - this topic provides information on the number of reported cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) worldwide* (* excluding the United Kingdom).

CRL-AP interlaboratory study 2006

Intercomparison study for the determination of processed animal proteins including meat and bone meal in animal feed.