Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is suspect in North Eastern France.

USCA News Alert A suspected case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), more commonly known as "mad cow disease", has been found in the northeastern region of Ardennes in France, said an announcement from the farm ministry on Tuesday. This new discovery could largely impact the country's beef exports and reverse France's official BSE risk level. Last year, the country earned the World Organisation for Animal Health's safest category, "negligible risk", after proving that the last infected native animal was born more than 11 years before. Tissue samples from the five-year old cow were collected and sent to a laboratory in Britain, with results expected in eight to ten days. Agri-Pulse reported on the most recent updates on the case this afternoon--their article can be found HERE and below. USCA will continue monitoring this issue and provide additional updates as they come. USCA has been in multiple meetings recently with USDA officials in which the topic of animal health--notably FMD, vaccinations and the general impact on trade was discussed. You will note two articles below from Agri-Pulse which highlight these issues. USCA supports providing adequate funding for vaccines and corresponding research to fight animal diseases, however, USCA has maintained since its inception, that the best way to fight FMD is to PREVENT it from being imported via South American and other affected regions. You can read the two Agri-Pulse pieces below to learn more and see how this effort continues. USCA will continue to monitor and be engaged in these animal health discussions as they continue. Our first and foremost goal is the health of the U.S. domestic herd.