BSE in Denmark, March 2000

Short Report

On February 28, 2000, Denmark confirmed its first case of BSE in a native born cow. In 1992, Denmark had one case of BSE in a cow imported from the UK. CEI does not plan to complete an Impact Worksheet on the current situation as the risk to the US from Denmark's BSE case is negligible.

• Importation of live ruminants and most ruminant products including meat and meat products has been banned from Denmark since December 12, 1997.
• No live ruminants have been imported into the US from Denmark since 1994 as recorded in the US Department of Commerce's trade data.
• Quantities of guts, bladders and stomachs of animals (not hogs or fish) prepared for use as sausage casings were imported into the US during the years 1999 - 1994 as reported in the US Department of Commerce's trade data. Also reported is the importation of guts, bladders and stomachs of animals (not fish) not prepared for use as sausage casings during the years 1999 - 1997 and 1995. Importation of stomachs from countries with cases of BSE is allowed under current requirements as this product is not considered to be of risk. In addition, National Center for Import and Export staff reports that companies in Denmark consolidate and store shipments of casing materials (guts, bladders and stomachs) from other countries, then export these materials. This storage and transit of products is allowed because the product is not coming from a country at risk for BSE, yet the trade data would show the product as coming from Denmark.
• Bones (crude, steamed or ground) have been imported from Denmark during the years 1998 - 1994. This listing is not species specific and therefore is probably bones from non-ruminant animals.

Prior to the December 1997 ban, small amounts (approximately 200 kg) of beef were imported into the US from Denmark in 1997 and in 1996. And in 1994, almost 24,000 kg of beef were imported.