Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

BSE or "Mad Cow Disease" is a progressive, fatal disease of the nervous system of cattle. It is what is known as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). Other TSEs include scrapie in sheep, chronic wasting disease in deer and elk, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. Although the exact cause of BSE is unknown, it is associated with the presence of an abnormal protein called a prion. There is no treatment or vaccine currently available for the disease.

• Fact Sheet - BSE
• BSE (Mad Cow Disease) and food safety

The protection of public health, food safety and animal health has been and continues to be a fundamental concern for the Government of Canada. In relation to BSE, the Government of Canada, through Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), have responded to the challenges presented by developing a comprehensive suite of internationally recognized, science-based measures to effectively minimize the likelihood of exposure, amplification and spread of BSE within the cattle population and to protect consumers from the associated human health risks.

Information we provide for producers and the livestock sector includes:

• BSE safeguards - Overview
  • Enhanced Surveillance Program
  • Enhanced Feed Ban / Specified Risk Material
• Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) cases confirmed in Canada in 2011
  • Testing results 
• Completed investigations
• International activities / Trade
  • BSE Risk Categorization
  • BSE import policy for bovine animals and their products
• What to expect if your farm is under investigation