Scientific Report of the European Food Safety Authority on the Assessment of the Geographical BSE-Risk (GBR) of SWAZILAND

The European Food Safety Authority and its Scientific Expert Working Group on the Assessment of the Geographical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Risk (GBR) were asked by the European Commission (EC) to provide an up-to-date scientific report on the GBR in Swaziland, i.e. the likelihood of the presence of one or more cattle being infected with BSE, pre-clinically as well as clinically, in Swaziland. This Scientific Report addresses the GBR of Swaziland as assessed in 2004 based on data covering the period 1980 - 2003. Cattle imported from the Republic of South Africa which could have been rendered, represent a moderate external challenge the second half of the nineties and a low external challenge between 2001 and 2003. MBM did not enter the domestic BSE / cattle system and did not contribute to an external challenge. As the cattle system was neutrally stable in the entire period of 1980 to 2003, it is unlikely but can not be excluded that the external challenge by cattle imported in the second half of the nineties led to an internal challenge since the end of the nineties. EFSA concludes that the current GBR level of Swaziland is II, i.e. it is unlikely but can not be excluded that domestic cattle are (clinically or pre-clinically) infected with the BSE-agent. As long as the system remains neutrally stable, it is expected that the GBR stays like it is.