Current EU legislation provides that all cattle over 30 months of age intended for human consumption must be rapid tested for BSE. In 2002, over 700,000 animals were tested for BSE and of these over 600,000 were in the over 30 months category. A total of 333 BSE cases were confirmed in that year. Of these, 221 were detected through active surveillance, and 34 were in the over 30 months category.
The purpose of the control programme is to protect human health by maintaining high standards of food safety, to safeguard the economically important beef industry and in due course to eradicate the disease from the national herd.