Analysis of Brazilian imports as risk factors for dissemination of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the country

Abstract

This research presents and analyzes Brazilian importation of cattle and derivate products which represent a risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) during the period from 2002 to 2009, according to World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) protocol, in order to identify the potential risk of goods brought in from abroad. The study considered data on the type, volume and origin of the imports, incident rates and BSE risk classification of exporting countries provided by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Supply, and the OIE. Importations during this period included 496 cattle imported from countries which reported BSE (Canada and USA), 7,791,295 kg of products intended for animal feed from the USA, and 36,038 kg from Malaysia. The information available does not permit identification of the products' composition (species of origin), however according to the legislation prevailing during the period in question, the imports made between 2002 and 2007 represented a risk of presence of bovine protein. Also identified were imports of beef products intended for human consumption during that period 156.869 kg from USA; 1,600 kg from italy and 1 kg from spain. in addition for pharmaceutical use it was identified 37,194 kg of bovine pancreas from usa and 457,719 kg of glands from animals (undefined species) also from USA. It was possible to conclude that the imported goods despite the identified potential represented low risk of introduction of the infectious agent on the country and the volumes decreased gradually during that period.