In 2004, 65 cases of BSE were confirmed in Germany, compared to 54 in 2003, and 106 in 2002. Until January 19, 2005, one additional case was confirmed, taking the number of confirmed BSE cases since the first detection of BSE in Germany in November 2000, to a total of 358. In Germany all cattle older than 24 month at slaughter have to be tested for BSE, compared to 30 months in the EU. The ongoing discussion about testing age will likely result in a change to 30 months in the second half of 2005.