Research and analysis: Sheep: TSE surveillance statistics

Updated: Sheep TSE surveillance statistics updated

Cases of TSE disease found in sheep from passive surveillance have been recorded since 1993. The European Union active surveillance started in January 2002.

In active surveillance, the number of sheep sampled in the testing programme has varied each year . It has included:

  • a sample of fallen sheep over 18 months of age.
  • a sample of healthy slaughtered sheep over 18 months of age.

Cases which have been identified from flocks in the Compulsory Scrapie Flock Scheme (CSFS) are shown separately.

APHA attempt to trace all cases of scrapie back to their natal (birth) flock so that it can confirm disease on the appropriate premises and control measures can be applied. In some cases this can take time. Where a final decision has not been made on where to confirm disease, the case is included in the number of pending cases.

The following reports are also available:




Research and analysis: Goats: TSE surveillance statistics

Updated: TSE surveillance statistics: goats updated

Cases of TSE disease found in goats from passive surveillance in Great Britain have been recorded since 1993. The European Union active surveillance programme started in January 2002.

In active surveillance, the number of sheep sampled in the testing programme has varied each year. It has always included:

  • a sample of fallen goats over 18 months of age.
  • a sample of healthy slaughtered goats over 18 months of age (no longer in place)

Cases which have been identified from herds in the Compulsory Scrapie Flock Scheme (CSFS) are shown separately.

APHA attempt to trace all cases of scrapie back to their natal (birth) herd so that it can can confirm disease on the appropriate premises for control measures to be applied. In some cases this can take time. Where a final decision has not been made on where to confirm disease, the case is included in the number of pending cases.

At present no atypical cases of scrapie have been found in British goats.

The following reports are also available:




Consultation outcome: The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) Regulations 2015

Updated: Added note on what happened after this consultation ended.

We want to know what you think about our plans to consolidate the current rules on bottled drinking water.

This update will also:

  • ease burdens on businesses by removing a national requirement which no longer has a scientific evidence base
  • change the way offences are enforced, allowing Local Authorities to take a more proportionate approach
  • apply new requirements for businesses to test and monitor for radioactive substances in bottled drinking water

The new regulations will come into force in early January 2016 and will apply in England only. Separate regulations will be made in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These regulations will replace the current regulations.




Form: Permanent grassland assessment form: Countryside Stewardship

Updated: Form updated.

Use this form with applications that include the options:

You do not have to use this form. You can use your own document if it gives enough information to meet the requirements.

Send this form or your own document with an application to show that land is eligible for a permanent grassland option.




Detailed guide: Apply for PhD bursaries related to nuclear decommissioning

Updated: This PhD bursary call has opened.

We are looking for proposals that support the NDA mission to deliver safe, sustainable and publicly acceptable solutions to the challenge of decommissioning and clean-up of the UK’s civil nuclear legacy.

Up to £500,000 is available to support projects that will lead to the award of a PhD.

The NDA’s goals for the scheme are as follows:

  • maintain and develop the key technical skills that will be required to help us carry out the mission over the coming decades
  • provide fundamental understanding of technologies and processes across the NDA estate
  • develop early stage technologies (Technology Readiness Level 1 to 3)
  • encourage 2-way knowledge transfer between the academic and industrial communities working on nuclear decommissioning

Eligibility

Only project proposals with a total cost to NDA of less than £120,000 will be considered (excluding cost of any collaboration with US research organisations).

Applications for the annual bursary scheme are invited from:

  • UK academic institutions for PhD projects
  • sub-contractors, including Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) seeking ‘top-up’ funding for CASE awards and EngDocs

The relevant themes are:

  1. characterisation
  2. waste packaging and storage
  3. land quality
  4. decommissioning
  5. spent fuel and nuclear material
  6. effluents
  7. open criteria (including robotics and aqueous effluents)

Eligibility will cover PhD projects involving universities or sub-contractors where the bursary is used as a grant top-up to access national facilities for research involving the handling of radioactive materials.

How to apply

Submissions will close at 15:00 on Monday 12 November 2018.

NDA PhD Bursary Call 2019