BSE Inspection Checklist Available on the CVM Internet Home Page

September 25, 2001

FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has made available the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Inspection Checklist on the Center's Home Page on the Internet. This checklist is to be used by Federal and State inspectors to determine compliance with FDA's ruminant feed (BSE) regulations, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Part 589.2000.

This rule, that prohibits the use of most mammalian protein in feeds for ruminant animals, was implemented to prevent the establishment and amplification of BSE through feed in the United States. The rule became effective on August 4, 1997. Inspections of over 10,000 renderers, feed mills, ruminant feeders, and others (such as protein blenders) have been conducted to determine compliance with the BSE feed regulations. The majority of these inspections (around 80%) were conducted by State officials and the remainder by FDA. A checklist has been used to record information on the compliance with the rules. The checklist that is being made available on the CVM Home Page is a revised version intended for use in future inspections.

Questions or comments about the checklist may be directed to Dr. Neal Bataller in CVM's Division of Compliance at: Nbatalle@cvm.fda.gov, 301-827-3353.