Abstract: How to use science to deal with risk correctly is an important issue for modern government decision making. 1996 British BSE saga provoked much reflection on this issue and the main reason for the BSE crisis was science being misuse and spread incorrectly. In 2000, the outbreak of FMD had an even broader impact. Unlike the BSE crisis, the use of science led to the successful handling of FMD. This paper analyses that the failures of BSE crisis lie in the tardiness of governmental response, the incline of covering up possible risk in administrative tradition, lack of timeliness and understanding of science advice. The recipe for the success of FMD handling are the influence of science advisor at highest level, the authorization of power to this top science advisor, openness of decision making, coordination of departments. It is concluded that the different strategies of handling BSE and FMD actually represent the shift from departmental management to expert governance when it comes to the use of science for government to respond to risk.