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Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE, sometimes referred to as "mad cow disease") and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) belong to the unusual group of progressively degenerative neurological diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). These diseases are characterized by an incubation period of several months (among mink) to several years, during which there is no visible indication of the disease.

The BSE infected cows that have been found in the U.S., have either been imported from Canada or, due to their age, had in all likelihood consumed BSE infectious material before 1997 when FDA prohibited the use of feeds likely to carry the infectious agent.

In 1997, FDA published a final regulation designed to prevent the spread of BSE through animal feed. The 1997 rule prohibits the use of most mammalian protein in the manufacture of animal feeds given to ruminant animals, such as cows, sheep, and goats. The regulation also requires process and control systems to ensure that feed for ruminants does not contain the prohibited mammalian tissue.

In 2008, FDA published a regulation that strengthened the 1997 rule by prohibiting the tissues that have the highest risk for carrying the agent thought to cause BSE in animal feed.  These high risk cattle materials are the brains and spinal cords from cattle 30 months of age and older.  The 2008 rule also prohibits the use of entire carcass of cattle not inspected and passed for human consumption, unless the cattle are less than 30 months of age, or the brains and spinal cords have been removed.

The combination of the 1997 and the 2008 rules protects animals and consumers against BSE by prohibiting the use of most mammalian protein in the manufacture of animal feeds given to ruminant animals and by removing high-risk materials from all animal feed.

Please direct questions on CVM’s BSE activities to:

Division of Compliance (HFV-230)
Office of Surveillance and Compliance
Center for Veterinary Medicine
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
MPN IV Bldg., Room 146
7519 Standish Place
Rockville, MD 20855-2773
Telephone: (240) 276-9200
FAX: (240) 276-9241 

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