The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Ireland.

Agriland understands that tests carried out at the department’s Central Veterinary Research Laboratory confirmed a case of atypical BSE on Thursday evening (April 9).

The animal was identified during the department’s on-going systematic surveillance of ‘fallen’ animals at fallen animal collection centre.

A spokesperson for the department said that "the animal did not enter the food or feed chain and there are no public health risks associated with this occurrence".

Atypical BSE

DAFM noted that "atypical BSE is a rare spontaneous event that may occur in any bovine population".

"Ireland has World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) negligible risk status for BSE, which is the lowest risk rating available.

"The identification of this atypical BSE case does not affect Ireland’s negligible risk status for BSE," the spokesperson said.

The department added that the identification of this atypical BSE case "does not impact on trade generally".

"However, agreements with some trading partners require notification of such cases, and the relevant competent authorities have been informed.

"Agreements with China, Japan and Korea require official notification of such cases to issue to their competent authorities," the spokesperson said.

The department notified the competent authorities in these countries on Friday and is awaiting their response.

In January, beef exports from Ireland to China were stopped due to the detection of bluetongue here.

The Chinese market only reopened to Irish beef two weeks previously having been stopped over a year earlier, in October 2024, after an atypical case of BSE was discovered in a cow here.