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Introduction |
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| 1. |
The occurrence of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
(BSE) or Mad Cow Disease in some European (EU) countries in
recent years has become a focus of public attention. |
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| 2. |
The EU countries have implemented comprehensive
control and surveillance measures to prevent the spread of the
disease. Hong Kong has also taken corresponding measures to
protect public health. |
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| What is BSE or Mad Cow Disease |
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| 1. |
BSE, also known as mad cow disease, is a progressive
and fatal brain disease of cattle first reported in Britain
in 1986. It is characterized by spongy like changes in the brain
and spinal cord of the affected animals with an average incubation
period of about 4 to 5 years. |
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| 2. |
One generally accepted theory suggested that
a self-replicating protein known as prion causes the disease.
Prion is resistant to freezing, drying and heating at normal
cooking temperature. It is also unlikely to be inactivated by
normal pasteurization and sterilization. |
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| 3. |
Epidemiological studies suggested that the spread
of BSE might have resulted from the use of ruminant feed containing
ruminant-derived meat and bone meal |
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| The Risks of BSE |
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| 1. |
In March 1996, a new disease known as Variant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) was reported in the United
Kingdom (UK) affecting human with characteristic spongy degeneration
of the brain |
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| 2. |
Epidemiological evidence suggested that vCJD
is strongly linked with exposure to the BSE agent, and probably
through ingestion of food contaminated by the central nervous
system tissues of bovines affected by BSE. |
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| 3. |
vCJD is different from the traditional
form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). The traditional CJD
is a rare neurological disease of human and is not associated
with the consumption of beef. |
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| 4. |
Tissues derived from spinal cord,
brain, eyes, tonsils and intestines of cattle, sheep and goat
are regarded as Specific Risk Materials in EU countries and
should be handled with care. |
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| 5. |
Nevertheless, according to the
information of the World Health Organization, infectivity has
not yet been detected in skeletal muscle tissue. Reassurance
can be provided by removal of visible nervous and lymphatic
tissues from meat. Furthermore, milk and milk products are
considered safe. Tallow and gelatin are also considered safe
if prepared by a manufacturing process that has been shown experimentally
to inactivate the transmissible agent. |
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| Situation in Overseas Countries |
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| 1. |
Since 1986 and up to December 2000, approximately
180,000 cases of BSE have been reported in the UK. The incidence
was at peak in 1992 with an annual case number of more than
37,000. Nevertheless, the incidence has fallen sharply to about
1100 cases in 2000 due to implementation of a series of active
control measures by the local authorities. This represented
approximately 50% decrease compared to that in 1999. |
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| 2. |
BSE cases have also been reported in some EU
countries. Up-to-date information of BSE cases can be obtained
from the website of the Office International des Epizooties:
http://www.oie.int/eng/info/en_esbmonde.htm. |
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| 3. |
Recently, there has been an increase in the number
of BSE cases reported in France and Germany. This was due to
the introduction of active and improved surveillance measures,
and the stepping up of tests for BSE in these countries. |
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| 4. |
As at December 2000, some 80 cases of vCJD have
been diagnosed in the UK, three in France, and one in the Republic
of Ireland. No cases have been reported in other countries. |
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| Control Measures in EU Countries |
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| 1. |
WHO recommended all countries must prohibit the
use of ruminant tissues in ruminant feed and must exclude tissues
that are likely to contain BSE agent from any animal or human
food chain. |
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| 2. |
UK has banned the use of ruminant proteins
since 1988, and cattle suspected of having the disease were
subsequently destroyed and incinerated. |
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| 3. |
The European Commission (EC) also put in place
a series of very comprehensive measures to combat BSE. These
measures include the requirement for removal and destruction
of Specific Risk Materials from cattle, sheep and goat from
1 October 2000. |
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| Situation and Regulatory Measures in Hong Kong |
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| 1. |
So far, no cases of vCJD, which is closely related
to exposure of BSE in cattle, have been reported in Hong Kong. |
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| 2. |
The import of beef is governed by
the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations, Cap.132. An
official health certificate stating that the meat is fit for
human consumption must accompany each consignment of imported
beef. |
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| 3. |
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
(FEHD), in line with recommendations of the relevant international
authorities, including Office International des Epizooties and
WHO, has imposed additional sanitary requirements on beef products
imported from EU countries which have reported cases of mad
cow disease to prevent and control the spread of the disease
in Hong Kong. Such BSE-specific safety assurance attestation
should be incorporated in the health certificate accompanying
each consignment of beef. |
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| 4. |
Under the present requirements, importers have
to obtain prior approval from FEHD before importing beef products
into Hong Kong from countries with history of mad cow disease.
In addition to reporting explicitly the exporting country's
mad cow disease status, importers are required to submit health
certificates issued by recognized authorities stating the meat-bone-meal
is not used to feed cows in the exporting country, that all
cows have passed ante-mortem inspection by professional staff
and that specific high risk parts like brain and spinal cord
have not been included in beef products for export. The consignment
in question can only be imported into Hong Kong after FEHD has
assessed and approved the application. On arrival to Hong Kong,
the beef products will first be held. FEHD will check the health
certificates and inspect the products to ascertain that no specific
high-risk parts like brain and spinal cord are contained therein
before releasing the beef products for sale. |
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| 5. |
The majority of beef imported to Hong Kong are
from BSE free countries such as the Mainland, USA, Canada, Australia
and New Zealand. |
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| 6. |
FEHD would continue to monitor the situation
and take appropriate control measures where necessary. |
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Risk Assessment Section
February 2001
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