Scientific Opinion on the revision of the quantitative risk assessment (QRA) of the BSE risk posed by processed animal proteins (PAPs)

Abstract

The cattle Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) risk posed by bovine derived Processed Animal Proteins (PAPs) in feed was estimated, the diagnostic methods and their sensitivity to detect animal proteins in feed and compared different risk assessment methods for animal proteins in feed was reviewed. It was concluded that the current global limit of detection for PAPs in feed is still considered to be 0.1%. Data related to BSE monitoring and PAP production in the European Union (EU) were considered. A model (EFSA QRA PAP model) was developed to study the magnitude of the total BSE infectivity in PAPs and in ruminant feed under a certain scenario assuming some specific cross-contaminations. On the basis of the 2009 BSE surveillance data in the EU, assuming a 0.1% contamination (the limit of detection for PAP in feed) with non-ruminant PAPs and according to the EFSA QRA PAP model, the total BSE infectivity load that could enter in cattle feed per year in the EU would be equivalent to 0.2 Cattle oral Infectious Dose 50% (Co ID50) (9 x 10-5 - 1.3 CI95%) (that would mean that less than one additional BSE infected cattle could be expected in the EU cattle population per year with an upper 95% confidence). The specific scenario described by the model and the related assumptions and uncertainties are discussed in this scientific opinion.