Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Cosmetics

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE, is a progressive neurological disorder of cattle. The resources below provide safety and regulatory information on BSE and cosmetics, as well as other FDA-regulated products.

Background

• Commonly Asked Questions
• All About "Mad" Cow Disease

Regulatory Resources

• Final Rule: Use of Materials Derived From Cattle in Human Food and Cosmetics (adoption of interim final rule as final with amendments)
  March 17, 2016

• Final Rule: Recordkeeping Requirements for Human Food and Cosmetics Manufactured From, Processed With, or Otherwise Containing Material From Cattle
  October 11, 2006
• Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations, 700.27 Use of Prohibited Cattle Materials in Cosmetic Products
  October 11 2006

Exports

• Exporting Cosmetics

Imports and Domestic Products

• Import Alert #17-04, Detention Without Physical Examination of Bulk Shipments of High-risk Bovine Tissue from BSE Countries--Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy May 20, 2003
• Cosmetics Compliance Program: Import and Domestic 3/15/2010 (PDF 310 KB)
• Imported Cosmetics

Risk Assessments

• An Evaluation of the Risk of Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease from Exposure to Cattle-Derived Protein Used in Cosmetics
  July 14, 2004
• An Evaluation of the Risk of Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease from Exposure to Cattle-Derived Protein Used in Cosmetics: Federal Register, Notice of Availability
  July 14, 2004