1.   Infected carcasses are being frozen and held in warehouses until a method of destroying the prion is found.

2.   Infected carcasses that would kill other carnivores are safely consumed.

3.   Britain has struggled to no avail to get the ban lifted, arguing it has already taken adequate precautions to prevent infected carcasses from reaching consumers.

4.   Feed made from infected carcasses is suspected of spreading the disease across much of Europe.

5.   In addition, Britain proposed tightening slaughterhouse rules and other safeguards introduced over the past few years to ensure infected carcasses do not enter the food chain.

6.   Mad cow and the human version, it is believed, occurred after infected carcasses were used in livestock feed.

7.   Testing can detect infected carcasses, but if infection has not reached a certain level, harmful beef can slip through screening.