Note: This is a working document. It is not a definitive list. The aim of this document is to provide a convenient and non-contentious description of some of the events which concerned BSE and nvCJD. This document will be re-issued from time to time: if you have any corrections, please notify the Inquiry Secretariat.

For The BSE Story from 1st January 1991 to 1 April 1998 click here

Date

Event

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1732 Scrapie first recorded in sheep Southwood IBD02 6 3.2
1865 Liebig recommends the use of meat by-products in pig feed. Cooke, Brian WS27 1  
1883 Publication of 'Un cas de tremblante sur un boeuf' (scrapie in a cow) by French veterinarian Sarraet, in Revue Medicale Veterinaire, 7, 310-312. (The case had occurred in 1881.)   E1077    
1900 MBM is used in ruminant feeds at the turn of the century. Sanderson, Paul WS28   72
1908 Kellner refers to the use of meat by-products in animal feed. Cooke, Brian WS27 1  
1915 Publication of Goodwin's translation of Kellner's 'The Scientific Feeding of Animals'. Cooke, Brian WS27 1  
1920 Creutzfeldt published a case of 'Creutzfeldt' Disease Morland Judgement M2 20  
1920s By this time, using sterilised MBM and fish meal was 'a normal way of feeding the protein needed for high milk production.' Lamming Evidence (Prof Thomas) Day 7 46/48  
1921 Jakob reported 4 cases of CJD Morland Judgement M2 20  
1924 Report of the Fertilisers and Feedingstuffs Advisory Committee recommends that raw materials used in compound feeds should be listed in new legislation. Cooke, Brian WS27 2  
1925 Report of the Fertilisers and Feedingstuffs Advisory Committee recommends what should be listed in the Schedules. Cooke, Brian WS27 2  
1926 Fertiliser and Feeding Stuffs Act 1926 includes the description of MBM as a feedingstuff. Cooke, Brian WS27 2  
1928 Morrison describes the use of MBM in cattle feed in America and Europe. Cooke, Brian WS27 2  
1931 Thompson in 'Use of Meat Meal in Calf Feeding - Some Recent Experiences by Farmers' 'refers to the use of meat meal as an alternative protein source to that of milk products such as skim and whey.' Cooke, Brian WS27 2  
1932 Fertilisers and Feedingstuffs Regulations 1932 introduce 'a revised definition of feeding MBM containing not less that 40% protein… this definition remains in force through to the 1970s when the UK entered the EC' Cooke, Brian WS27 2  
1934 Rees describes the 'use of rendered meat meal as a supplement for grass in the feeding of sheep on a number of farms in New South Wales, Australia.' Cooke, Brian WS27 2  
1936 Public Health Act 1936. Requires renderers to obtain a license from local authority. Local authority power to regulate comes from denial of license or prosecution as statutory nuisance (such as smell).        
1936 Morris in 'The Protein Requirements of Lactation' refers to experiments on dairy cows that measure the effect of protein intake. A number of the studies included rendered meat feed. Cooke, Brian WS27 3  
1936 Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS) identified SEAC report IBD21 11 1.2
1939 Hewitt describes the feeding of meat meal to dairy cattle in Australia Cooke, Brian WS27 3  
1942 Feedingstuffs (Regulation of Manufacture) Order 1942 defines a group of raw materials as 'animal protein rich substances meaning any substance other than dried blood derived from any animal or fish and which contains not less than 40% protein.' Cooke, Brian WS27 3  
1943 Linton & Williamson describe good MBM as a valuable complementary stock feed. Cooke, Brian WS27 3  
1946 Feeding Stuffs (Regulation of Manufacture) (Amendment No. 10) Order 1946 (SI 1946/2124) specified a minimum of 5% animal protein rich substances in the ration for feeding young cattle. This was removed in December 1947 by the Feedingstuffs (Regulation of Manufacture) (Amendment No. 2) Order 1947.   L3/1B    
1950 Diseases of Animals Act        
1957 Kuru first reported SEAC report IBD21 11 1.2
19 Feb 1966 Publication of study by Gajdusek, Gibbs and Alpers showing intracerebral transmission of kuru to chimpanzees. Day 8 p.7 J/N/209/794    
1968 Kirschbaum reported details of 150 cases of CJD Morland Judgement M2 20  
1960s and 1970s 'Large-scale continuous rendering plant, developed in the United States, was adopted by an increasing number of the larger renderers. Compared to the batch techniques, continuous plant offered savings in labour and energy costs at high levels of capacity utilisation.' MMC Report 'Animal Waste', 1985 M4 24  
1970 Agriculture Act 1970 (Part IV - Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs) Introduces labelling requirement according to prescribed criteria (eg protein, vitamins, energy). Feeds must be marked prior to removal from manufacturer.        
1971 The first continuous rendering plant in the UK is commissioned.   FEG15   11
1972 Roos et al reported details of another 47 cases of CJD, including cases where inoculated brain tissue transmitted the disease to primates Morland Judgement M2 20  
1973 Fertiliser and Feedingstuffs Regulations 1973 (SI 973 No. 1521).   L3    
1973 Diseases of Animals (Waste Food) Order 1973. License of waste food processing premises by Local authority, enforced by inspection. S.I. 1973/1936 L1    
1974 Control of Pollution Act. Contained provisions relating to the disposal of waste from the rendering industry.        
1975 Zoonoses Order 1975 controls infected premises with a risk to human health from Salmonella or Brucella. Cooke, Brian WS27 7  
About 1976 US Dept Agriculture decide that carcasses of sheep and goats with scrapie should not be used for human or animal food. Martin Addendum WS5   8
1977 Slaughterhouse (Hygiene) Regulations 1977. Reg. 47 requires animal waste products to be removed from slaughterhouses at least once every two days.        
1 Sept 1978 Warble Fly (England and Wales) Order 1978 (SE1978 No. 1197) comes into operation.   L9    
3 May 79 General Election   E1872    
Sept 1979 Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution 7th report.   M3    
Nov 79 Start of MRC-funded epidemiological study of CJD. Radda statement   8  
1980 Publication of ARC Working Party Technical Review, 'The Nutrient Requirements of Ruminent Livestock.' Chapter 4 describes a new approach to the problems of meeting the protein requirements of ruminants.   M13, Tab 5    
1981 The Diseases of Animals (Protein Processing) Order 1981(S.I.1981/676) empowers authorised officer (veterinary officer) to enter premises which process animal waste and/or animal proteins for feedstuffs and take samples to be tested by Ministry laboratories.   L1    
1981 Animal Health Act (AHA 1981) Not Northern Ireland. Brings together much legislation in respect of animal health and control of animal diseases. Includes provision for slaughter of diseased animals.        
1981 Joint AFRC/ MRC NPU established in Edinburgh under Dickinson Radda statement     22
1982 The Meat (Sterilisation and Staining) Regulations 1982 Required any meat from slaughterhouses, not fit for human consumption, to be stained or sterilised. S.I.1982/1018      
15 March 1982 Warble Fly (England and Wales) Order 1982 (SI 1982 No. 234) comes in to operation.   L9   3
9 June 83 General Election   E1872    
1983 Meat and Poultrymeat (Staining and Sterilisation) (Scotland) Regulations 1983 Similar to The Meat (Sterilisation and Staining) Regulations 1982 for England and Wales - see above. S.I.1983/704      
1984 British ministry advisory Bulletin 433 includes MBM as a component of the ruminant diet. Cooke, Brian WS27 5  
1984 Milk production quotas are introduced to overcome the imbalance between production and consumption of milk products (too much milk was being produced). Sanderson, Paul WS28   23
22 Dec 1984 David Bee called to examine Cow 133 with arched back and weight loss on Peter Stent's farm. Bee Statement WS, Bee 2 10
11 Feb 1985 Cow 133 dies, having earlier developed head tremor and incoordination. Bee Statement WS, Bee 2 10
April 1985 Date on which clinical signs were shown by the first of the cattle described by Wells and others. Wells and others, A novel progressive spongiform encephalopathy in cattle J/VR.121 419 3
1 April 1985 The Monopolies and Mergers Commission: 'Animal Waste' - A Report on the supply of animal waste in Great Britain. MMC report 'Animal Waste' 1985 M5a    
10 Sept 85 Watkin-Jones refers Stent specimens to CVL. Dealt with by C Richardson as duty pathologist. Wells Statement 85-89   4 12
19 Sept 1985 Carol Richardson diagnoses SE in cow brain from the Stent farm. Bee Statement;Wells Statement 85-89 WS, Bee 2 18; 12
1986 and 1988 Marsh and Harsough report that they suspect a scrapie-like disease of cattle in the USA. Wilesmith and others, BSE: Epidemiological Studies on the Origin IBD63 643  
1986 The Feeding Stuffs Regulations 1986 EC Directives relating to additives in feedingstuffs and products used in animal nutrition. S.I. 1986/177      
1986 The Feeding Stuffs (No.2) Regulations 1986        
June 1986 Disease recorded in a nyala (African antelope) in a UK wildlife park Southwood IBD02   4.2.4
Nov 1986 Date given by Southwood Report as being when 'BSE was first identified as an entity.' Southwood IBD02 3 2.1
June 1987 Initial epidemiological studies started. Wilesmith and others, 'Bovine spongiform encephalopathy: Epidemiological studies on the origin' IBD64 199 2
5 June 1987 'CVO informs [MAFF] Ministers about new disease. Transmission experiment then put under way. Not known if disease was transmissible at that stage.' MAFF Chronology IBD01; YB87/6.5/2.1 50  
8 June 87 Paper describing BSE is circulated to SVIOs   YB87/6.8/1.1    
10 June 87 Meeting at which CVO (Rees) briefs MAFF Permanent Secretary (Franklin) on occurence of BSE.   YB87/6.16/1.1    
11 June 87 General Election   E1872    
July 1987 Disease recorded in a gemsbok (African antelope) in a UK wildlife park. Southwood IBD002   4.2.4
8 July 1987 'A Neurological Syndrome' presented by Colin Whitaker and Carl Johnson to BCVA at Nottingham.   YB87/7.8 1.1  
11 July 87 A 'previously unreported slowly progressive neurological disorder of adult cattle' is briefly described in a short submission under 'miscellaneous conditions' in the journal Veterinary Record. J/VR/121/29      
13 July 87 CVO Rees chairs a meeting with NFU, British Fresian Society, British Holstein Society and BCVA to tell them about BSE. Rees WS 126 para 26 YB 87/7.15/3.1    
Oct 87 Dickinson resigns from NPU. Kimberlin replaces him. Radda statement     29(ii)
5-6 Oct 87 Hope and colleagues at NPU test BSE-affected brain, find abnormal PrP and conclude that BSE is a prion disease. Hope statement     24
31 Oct 1987 Publication of 'A novel progressive spongiform encephalopathy in cattle' by Wells et al. Veterinary Record (1987) 121, 419-420 IBD62    
10 Nov 87 BSE research team meeting, chaired by Rees.   YB87/11.10/1.1    
11 Dec 87 Publication of 'A spongiform encephalopathy in a nyala' by Dr. Martin Jeffrey. Vet Path 25   398  
15 December 1987 'Initial epidemiology studies completed. Concluded ruminant derived meat and bone meal was only viable hypothesis for cause of BSE.' MAFF Chronology IBD01    
15 Dec 87 Policy meeting chaired by Rees, attended by Watson, examining present situation and results of epidemiology experiment. VIS to take on diagnosis role, CVL to receive material from selected farms.   YB87/12.15/1.1    
Jan-March 1988 'Double checking of feeding histories of affected animals initiated; request sent to compounders for details of inclusion of meat and bone meal in rations fed.' MAFF Chronology IBD01    
Feb 88 Kimberlin resigns from NPU. Hope statement     28
Beginning of April 1988 Sir Donald Acheson phones Sir Richard Southwood to discuss setting up a working party on BSE. Witness Statement WS, Southwood    
21 April 1988 'Southwood Working Party announced.' MAFF Chronology IBD01    
April-May 1988 'Response from compounders further substantiated hypothesis for cause of BSE.' MAFF Chronology IBD01    
May 1988 Govt indicated that it would introduce the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1988 (introduced 14 June, effective 18/07/88) Southwood IBD002 17 7.7.1
May 1988 Southwood Working Party established Southwood IBD002 3 1.1
June 1988 'Discussions with major compounders on timing of ruminant feed ban.' MAFF Chronology IBD01    
4 June 1988 Holt and Phillips, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, published in BMJ.   J/BMJ/296 1581  
14 June 1988 'The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1988 (SI 1988 No 1039) was made, article 7, which prohibits the sale, supply and use of certain feedingstuff for feeding to ruminants, came into effect on 18 July and the remainder on 21 June.' MAFF Chronology IBD01    
20 June 1988 'Southwood Working Party held first meeting and decided to issue interim advice immediately.' MAFF Chronology IBD01    
21 June 1988 Letter from Southwood Chair to Mr. D. Andrews, Permanent Secretary (MAFF) with interim recommendations from first meeting of the working party including destruction of affected carcasses and establishment of an expert working party on research.   YB88/6.21/1 35  
21 June 1988 'Provision of BSE Order 1988 came into effect with the exception of article 7. Made BSE notifiable and provided for isolation of BSE suspected when calving.' MAFF Chronology IBD01    
7 July 1988 'Decision to introduce slaughter policy announced.' [Destruction of all animals showing clinical symptoms that might have the disease.] MAFF Chronology; WS1 IBD01   12
18 July 1988 'Ruminant feed ban comes into force (included in BSE Order 1988, but implementation delayed until 18 July). Ban to apply until 31 December 1988 while a review of rendering processes was conducted.' MAFF Chronology IBD01    
8 August 1988 'Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Amendment) Order 1988 (SI 1988 No. 1345) and the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Compensation Order 1988 (SI 1988 No 1346) came into effect. Provided for slaughter policy and compensation to be paid at 50% for confirmed cases, 100% for negative; both subject to ceiling.' MAFF Chronology IBD01    
Aug/ Sep 88 The date reported by most feed compounders on which old stock including MBM was cleared from their premises YB92/11.12/1.1      
October 1988 'Transmission to mice following intra cerebral inoculation of BSE brain tissue reported in Veterinary Record.' MAFF Chronology IBD01    
10 Nov 1988 Second Southwood meeting - recommendations to (1) extend ban on ruminant based feed, (2) destroy milk from infected cows, (3) keep tabs on offspring of affected cattle. Southwood IBD02 i  
14 Nov 1988 Letter from Southwood Chair to Mr. D. Andrews, Permanent Secretary (MAFF) with interim recommendations from second meeting of the working party.   IBD02 35  
17 Nov 88 First meeting of CVL R&D Group, CVO's office, Tolworth. Wells statement; Hope statemt     46
28 Nov 88 'Disease made notifiable and slaughter policy introduced in N. Ireland by the BSE Order (Northern Ireland) 1988 (SI 1988 No 422) and the Diseases of Animals (Modification) (No 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 1988 (SI 1988 No. 421).' MAFF timeline      
30 Nov 88 'Decision announced to prolong feed ban and prohibit the use of milk from suspected animals for any purpose other than feeding to the cow's own calf.' MAFF Chronology IBD01    
15 Dec 88 Second meetings of CVL R&D Group. Hope statemt     41
16 Dec 1988 Third meeting of Southwood W. P.: concern that the Ministry had not yet taken any additional measures to ensure that the offspring of affected cattle were preserved. Minutes of meeting YB88/12.16/1    
20 Dec 1988 Letter from Southwood Chair to Mr. Andrews (MAFF) about monitoring of offspring of cattle affected with BSE.   IBD02 35  
22 Dec 1988 'The Zoonosis Order 1988 (SI 1988/2264) designated BSE as a zoonosis, enabling powers under the Animal Health Act 1981 to be used to reduce the risk to human health from BSE.' MAFF Chronology IBD01; L2    
30 Dec 1988 'The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (No 2) Order 1988 (SI 1988 No 2299) came into force to prolong feed ban and to prohibit use of milk from suspect cattle for any purpose other than feeding to cow's own calf.'        
4 Jan 1989 Prof Almond presents a BBC Antenna programme on BSE. Almond Evidence Day 12 10  
3 Feb 1989 date of Southwood Report Southwood IBD02 i  
9 February 1989 "Southwood Report received by Ministers." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
27 February 1989 "Southwood Report Published and Government response announced (all recommendations have or will be introduced)." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
27 February 1989 "Establishment of Tyrrell Committee on research announced (one of Southwood's recommendations)." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
13 March 1989 First Tyrrell Committee (CCR) meeting        
11 April 1989 Second Tyrrell Committee (CCR) meeting        
8 May 1989 Third Tyrrell Committee (CCR) meeting        
10 June 1989 "Tyrrell Report received by Government." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
13 June 1989 "Decision to introduce offals ban announced. Ban is Government initiative not a recommendation of Southwood, it was only concerned with baby food." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
13 June 89 BSE R&D meeting III, CVL Hope statemt     47
19 Jul 89 Rescreening of the BBC2 Antenna progamme (first screened on 4 Jan 89) Hope statemt     49
28 July 89 "EC ban on export cattle born before July 1988 and offspring affected or suspected animals (Decision 89/469/EEC)." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
13 November 1989 "The Bovine Offal (Prohibition) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No 2061) came into force in England and Wales which banned the use of certain specified bovine offals (SBO) for human consumption (following consultation - a legal requirement - and considered by experts)." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
21 Nov 89 BSE R&D meeting IV, NPU Hope statemt      
18 Dec 89 J Hope resigns from NPU, effective from 31 Mar 1990. Hope statemt     55
31 December 1989 "The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (No 2) Amendment Order (SI 1989 No 2326) came into force. This removed the time limitation of the ruminant feed ban in the principal Order by deleting the provision which stated that the ban would cease to have an effect on 1 January 1990." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
1990 First victim of FSE, siamese cat at Bristol University. Discovered by veterinary surgeons Janet Bradshaw (formerly Wyatt) and Dr. Geoffrey Pearson. Referred in April for expert opinion to Gerald Wells and Iain McGill of CVL. Peter Aldhous, 'Spongiform Encephalopathy found in a cat', Nature vol 345 J/N/345 194  
9 January 1990 "Publication of Tyrrell Report and Government response (all top and medium priority work recommended either under way or would be undertaken). Publication delayed so could ensure finance for R&D was in place. Research itself was not delayed." MAFF Chronology IBD01; IBD04; IBD05    
30 January 1990 "The Bovine Offal (Prohibition) (Scotland) Regulations 1990 (SI 1990 No 112) introduced the SBO ban in Scotland following additional consultation." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
31 January 1990 "Announcement that 5 antelopes have succumbed to a spongiform encephalopathy (greater kudu, arabian oryx, eland, nyala and gemsbok. The last two were referred to in Southwood Report)." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
3 February 1990 "Cattle to Cattle transmission following intra-cerebral and intra-venous inoculation of BSE brain tissue and into mice via the oral route reported in Veterinary Record, following press briefing on 2 February." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
14 February 1990 "The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Compensation Order (SI 1990 No 222) introduced full compensation up to a ceiling. There was no sudden surge of cases indicating that farmers had been under reporting." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
1 March 1990 "EC restricts exports of cattle to those under six months which are slaughtered before that age (Decision 90/59/EEC made February)." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
30 March 1990 "Administrative ban on export of specified offal and certain glands (for use other than human consumption) to other member states." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
31 Mar 90 J Hope's resignation from NPU becomes effective. Hope statemt     55
1 April 1990 "Disease made notifiable to European Commission (Decision 90/134/EEC made 6 March)." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
3 April 1990 "Announcement about the establishment of Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC)." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
9 April 1990 "EC Decision to ban exports of SBO and other tissues (90/200/EEC) - formalises administrative ban imposed on 30 March." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
1 May 1990 SEAC Meeting 1        
May 1990 Re-institution of surveillance of CJD, funded by Department of Health. CJD Surveillance in the UK IBD15    
10 May 1990 "Announcement about cat with spongiform encephalopathy." Maff Chronology IBD01    
13 May 1990 Sunday Times reports Lacey calling for slaughter of all infected herds. WS10; SEAC (Tyrrell) evidence   68 11
16 May 1990 Chief Medical Officer assurance that beef is safe to eat (repeated 1993)   YB90/5.16 1.1  
17 May 1990 SEAC Meeting 2 (emergency meeting)        
17 May 1990 "Announcement that decisions about breeding from offspring of affected cows should be left to individual farmers and their veterinary advisors." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
8 June 1990 "Council of Ministers agree arrangements for trade in beef and calves from UK (Decision 90/261/EEC made 8 June). Required bone in beef for export to come from holdings where BSE had not been confirmed in the previous 2 years." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
13 June 1990 SEAC Meeting 3        
14 June 1990 MAFF issues guidance to abattoirs that head meat must be recovered from the intact skull before the brain is removed Govt Response to Agricultural Committee 5th Report IBD10 2 7
July 1990 Ad hoc MRC meeting about coordination of national studies on CJD. Established a Coordinating Committee on SEs. Radda statement YB90/7.26/1.1    
2 July 1990 SEAC Meeting 4        
12 July 1990 "Publication of Tyrrell Committee's detailed reasoning on why no need to give official advice on breeding from offspring BSE cases." [Tyrrell Committee (SEAC) Report on the control of BSE in cattle] MAFF Chronology IBD01; IBD06    
12 July 1990 "Report of Agriculture Committee published." [Agriculture Select Committee Fifth Report - BSE. Report and Proceedings of the Committee together with Minutes of Evidence and Appendices] MAFF Chronology IBD01; IBD07    
24 July 1990 Medical Research Council publish its 'Opinion on the Public Health Implications of eating Beef and the Epidemic of BSE'   IBD09    
August 1990 British Veterinary Assn advise against breeding from the calves of cows with BSE. Black's Veterinary Dictionary 18th Edition, 1995, Ed. G. West IBD07 220 34
19 Sept 1990 SEAC Meeting 5        
24 Sept 1990 "Announcement on improved record keeping in cattle herds." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
24 Sept 1990 "Laboratory transmission of BSE to a pig announced. Tyrrell Committee advise no implications for human health but, as precaution on animal health, ban specified offals in all animal feed (including pet food)." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
25 Sept 1990 "The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (No.2) Amendment Order 1990 (SI 1990 No 1930) extended the ban on the use of specified bovine offals to any animal feed. Exports of such feed also effectively banned to other member states. (Third country exports banned under DTI legislation on 10 July 1991)." MAFF Chronology IBD01; L2    
28-29 Sept 1990 "OIE meeting in Paris; recommendations made regarding trade in cattle, beef, dairy and bovine products and co-ordination of research." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
2-5 October 1990 "OIE Conference on Sofia (Bulgaria); recommendations made regarding trade, prevention, control and surveillance of BSE, the support of research and the need for further consideration on trade in live animals." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
15 October 1990 "Bovine Animals (Identification, Marking and Breeding Records) Order 1990 (SI 1990 No 1867) introduced new record keeping arrangements requiring cattle farmers to maintain breeding records. These and movement records to be retained for ten years." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
24 Oct 90 First meeting (of 5) of MRC Co-ordinating (Murray) Committee on SEs. Radda Statement YB90/10.24/1.1    
1 Nov 1990 SEAC Meeting 6        
21 November 1990 "Publication of Government response to Agriculture Committee Report." MAFF Chronology IBD01    
16 Dec 90 MRC Co-ordinating (Murray) Committee on SEs second meeting, which included a 3 day international seminar on the molecular

 approaches to SEs.             

 STORIA FINO AL 1998

 Radda statement YB90/12.16/1.1