Over Thirty Month Rule and BSE Testing of Human Consumption Cattle

In March 1996 the EU imposed a comprehensive, worldwide ban on the export of bovine and bovine products from the UK due to the high incidence rate of BSE in UK cattle and the associated risk to human health.

One of the main controls the UK introduced to minimise the risk to public health was the Over Thirty Month (OTM) Rule which, prohibited beef from animals aged over thirty months from entering the food chain.   

The Over Thirty Month Slaughter Scheme (OTMS), which was administered by Defra, provided a disposal outlet for OTM cattle which could not be sold for the food chain.  Cattle entering the scheme were slaughtered and destroyed with compensation paid to the farmer.  

On 7 November 2005, following the FSA review of the OTM Rule and Ministerial approval, the OTM rule was replaced with a BSE testing regime for all cattle aged over thirty months born or reared in the UK on or after 1 August 1996.  A list of abattoirs that are approved in Northern Ireland to slaughter OTM cattle for human consumption is available to download by following the link below.

On 1 January 2009 following an EU decision the age at which cattle slaughter for human consumption increased from over 30 months to over 48 months. The testing criteria is applicable to all cattle born in the EU 15 Member States