A comprehensive audit of the controls to prevent BSE-infected meat getting into the food chain is being conducted by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
The audit has been recommended by the CJD Advisory Committee which reports to the Minister for Health, Mr Martin. CJD is the human form of BSE.
The authority confirmed yesterday the audit will continue until early next year when a comprehensive report will be published.
As part of the programme all the meat export plants, local abattoirs and some butchers' shops will be visited by the audit team to check existing controls.
In addition, the three high-risk rendering plants which handle the specified risk material from cattle and sheep will be inspected.
The eight inspectors will also monitor the accuracy of the Department of Agriculture and Food's computerised animal movements system.
Furthermore, the team will be monitoring the work of the laboratories carrying out the ENFER tests on all animals over 30 months which are being slaughtered for human consumption.
There have been only two cases of CJD in Ireland.