(March 2014)
FSANZ has completed its bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) food safety assessment for the Republic of Chile.
Download the food safety risk assessment report
The Australian Government’s BSE food safety policy requires that all countries exporting or seeking to export beef to Australia have a risk assessment undertaken by FSANZ.
The risk assessment shows that Chile has effective controls for prevention of BSE in place. FSANZ has concluded that the risk posed to consumers from beef products exported from Chile is negligible.
FSANZ examined the effectiveness of BSE-related controls throughout the beef production chain in Chile. Animal feeding practices, transportation, animal identification and traceability, slaughtering, and food safety and food recall systems were examined.
Key points from the risk assessment
- FSANZ has recommended that the Republic of Chile be assigned Category 1 BSE food safety risk.
- Category 1 status means there are comprehensive and well-established controls to prevent both the introduction and amplification of the BSE agent in a country’s cattle population, and contamination of the human food supply.
This means that trade in heat-treated beef products to Australia from Chile will be able to continue.
The Australian Department of Agriculture is responsible for implementing import certification requirements in relation to imported beef and beef products.
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