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Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) prevention and surveillance programme

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies or TSEs are a group of related brain-wasting diseases of humans and livestock. New Zealand has a comprehensive TSE preventive/surveillance programme in place for animal products to prevent the entry and spread of TSE agents. 

The most commonly known TSEs are bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), which occurs in adult cattle; scrapie in sheep and goats, and chronic wasting disease in deer. Fortunately, through a combination of historical good luck and stringent quarantine policies, New Zealand animals are completely free from these and any other TSEs.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)

Scrapie – New Zealand’s scrapie free status

The World Organisation for Animal Health (the OIE) has classified New Zealand as a ‘Negligible BSE Risk’ country. Such a classification is the most favourable one a country can be given. It is internationally recognised to be highly unlikely that cattle in New Zealand are infected with BSE. Nevertheless, we cannot afford to become complacent.

New Zealand has a comprehensive TSE preventive/surveillance programme in place to prevent the entry and spread of any TSE agent. There is also targeted surveillance of susceptible livestock - cattle, sheep, goats and deer. Contingency plans for dealing with any suspect cases in livestock have also been developed.

This work is overseen by the TSE Steering Committee. Members include senior technical and management personnel from the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

There are six main sub-programmes within the TSE Preventive/Surveillance Programme. These are:

1. Food standards:

This programme focuses on consumer protection placing controls on the entry of imported foods that might contain risk components.

2. Imported animals and imported feed controls:

The importation of all risk feeds and feed ingredients, especially meat and bone meal, is prohibited.

All proposals to import live animals are subject to a rigorous risk analysis. Animal species known to be susceptible to TSEs may be imported, but under stringent quarantine conditions. Imported animals are officially identified, their locations are registered, and they are subject to annual inspection by a veterinarian.

3. Internal ruminant feed controls:

The feeding of ruminant protein to ruminant animals is prohibited. Feed mills using ruminant protein ingredients may produce feed for ruminants only in accordance with a registered ruminant protein control programme that is subject to independent verification. Feeds must be labelled to indicate their suitability for feeding to ruminants. Targeted and random testing of feeds is used to monitor compliance.

4. Animal disease surveillance:

There is targeted surveillance of cattle, sheep, goats and deer for all TSE diseases. Financial incentives are used to encourage farmers and veterinarians to report suspect cases. In 2006, a total of 1,395 cattle, 188 sheep, 27 goats and 659 deer were tested for TSEs, all were TSE free.

5. Animal disease contingency plans:

A specialist centre for the investigation and control of exotic diseases has been established. Disease control plans for all TSEs have been developed. Tracing is a key element of a TSE response. There is compulsory individual identification of cattle and deer. This allows for tracing back to the herd-of-origin. The movements of virtually all adult dairy cattle from farm-to-farm are recorded. A national full-traceability electronic system is currently being evaluated.

6. Communications:

The TSE programme is underpinned by an active communication and information strategy. Key targets are the general rural population and livestock processing industries. Groups from these sectors are also represented on the TSE Liaison Committee.

New Zealand is an active member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (the OIE) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission. It has been instrumental in developing the international standards by which countries may safely trade animals and animal products, without spreading BSE or scrapie. These standards are published in the OIE’s Terrestrial Animal Health Code. New Zealand is interested in ensuring that the risk-based approach set out in these international standards is proportionate to the public (and animal) health threat associated with BSE. Also, that it reflects contemporary science and international experience with these diseases.