France implemented a real collective control campaign against bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in 1954 after an unsuccessful prophylactic phase applied since 1933, which was individual and free-based. This new programme led the country to be recognized as BTB-free by the European Commission in 2001. At the beginning of this campaign, 25-30% of the cattle farms were infected with BTB, whereas, at present, a few dozen outbreaks were declared per year. The French BTB control campaign proved to be a complete success. This programme was the first collective control campaign implemented in France against a livestock disease, which served as a model for other diseases in this country as well as in other countries. Although it began at a period when epidemiology did not exist as a formalized scientific discipline, and nevertheless had produced matter for new epidemiological knowledge, it could now be submitted to post-hoc evaluation for epidemiological relevance of its regulation texts. It should be noticed that the annual rate of infected herds was represented as a decreasing exponential curve. This data could be line-adjusted by a logarithmic transformation. The line's slope could be interpreted in an arithmetic scale. Each year (1954-2004), the number of infected herds was proportional (80-85%) to the number of infected herds observed the year before. The slope did not change despite the various modifications intended to enhance the programme performance. This slope stability strongly suggested the lack of management of risk factors. However, the slope changed since 1996, corresponding to a rate of approximately 70%. From this time on, the proportion of infected herds submitted to total slaughter changed from 10% since 1991 to approximately 50% in 1999. The epidemiological relevance of French BTB programme's regulation texts was analysed. Until 1990, the plan was focused on detection and culling of infected animals. It was only at that time that the control of infection-free status of cattle upon introduction in an infection-free herd became compulsory. This was a major and well-known risk factor control measure. Indeed, herds which did not respect this recommendation lost their disease-free qualification and their trade allowance. In 1999, the total slaughter of infected herds was officially introduced in the texts in order to eliminate the risk of herd reinfection. In 2003, the last introduction on regulation texts dealt with different measures such as risk management on exposure to infected neighbouring farms and detailed investigations to detect potential contaminated herds. Since then, systematic screening had been withdrawn and replaced by a surveillance system of herds' infection free status, infection risk management and its control by a systematic annual visit of herds, according to the present classical food safety principles (well-known as hygiene pack). However, the remaining difficulties encountered on the subject were emphasized.