Annual Report of the Scientific Network on BSE-TSE 2017

The EFSA Scientific Network on bovine spongiform encephalopathies and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (BSE-TSE) held its 12th meeting on 16 and 17 October 2017 in Parma. The meeting served as an opportunity to exchange scientific information on BSE-TSE related issues among EU Member States, countries from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), EFSA, the European Commission and ad hoc participants. In this occasion, ad hoc representation included the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE), the Canadian & OIE Reference Laboratories for BSE ­ Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the Food Safety Commission of Japan. The topics discussed included: an update on BSE-TSE-related activities at national and international level and results from recent TSE-related research projects and risk assessments in several EU countries. In addition, the Network discussed: updates on the situation of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Norway; the forthcoming CWD surveillance in the EU; ongoing EFSA, OIE and EC activities on this area, and the update on recent risk assessments and research outputs in Canada, Japan and France.