The Department of Agriculture has identified a suspected case of BSE in County Louth.
Tests are being carried out on a cow which died on a farm - with the results due back in one week.
The animal in question wasn't presented for slaughter - and didn't enter the food chain.
If confirmed, it would be the first case of BSE in Ireland since 2013.
The Department of Agriculture has informed the European Commission and is liaising with trading partners.
