In 1997, the U.S. Food and drug Administration (FDA) adopted amendments to Title 21, Part 589, of the Food and Drug Rules to prevent the establishment of Bovine Spongiform Enchephalopathy (BSE) in the United States. This disease, commonly known as "Mad Cow Disease", has been found in cattle in the United Kingdom and in Europe; and, in December 2003 a cow shipped from Canada into the U.S. was diagnosed with BSE.
The rule bans specific types of protein made from mammalian tissue from feed given to cattle and other ruminants. All feed product manufacturers are required to label any feed or feed products containing prohibited material(s) with a warning statement, "Do Not Feed to Cattle or Other Ruminants". In order to keep " Mad Cow Disease" from spreading into the United States, the feed industry, ruminant livestock producers and the state feed control officials are supporting compliance with this BSE rule.
In addition, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has ban the importation of livestock and products derived from livestock from 31countries that either have BSE or received products from BSE infected countries. The Association of American Feed Control Officials is concerned that there may be a possible compromise of the import ban when prohibited materials are labeled as fertilizer and imported into the U.S. Therefore, it is important that Plant Food Control Officials are aware of the above ban. If there is any question of the origin of animal product fertilizers (meat and bone meal, bone meal & other mammalian tissue) or the diversion of such material to feed use, contact your state feed control official or the FDA.
More information about "Mad Cow Disease" and the BSE Rule can be found on the FDA Internet Web Site:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bse.html.
The FDA/CVM Office of Surveillance and Compliance can be contacted at (301) 594-1726.
Since
an infected cow was discovered in the state of WA in December 2003, there
has been much publicity about BSE and FDA is proposing new rules governing
feeding of ruminants. The FDA website is the best place to stay updated
on the developments. The link below to Frequently Asked Questions
is also helpful.