Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 3

Written Answers - Bovine Disease Controls.

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

74 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will pursue a case at European level in Brussels to have the restrictive 30 month age limit after which all animals must be BSE tested increased to 36 months of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9071/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

Current EU legislation provides that all cattle over 30 months of age intended for human consumption must be rapid tested for BSE. In 2002, over 700,000 animals were tested for BSE and of these over 600,000 were in the over 30 months category. A total of 333 BSE cases were confirmed in that year. Of these, 221 were detected through active surveillance, and 34 were in the over 30 months category.

The purpose of the control programme is to protect human health by maintaining high standards of food safety, to safeguard the economically important beef industry and in due course to eradicate the disease from the national herd.

Although there is a positive underlying trend in relation to BSE this does not give rise to any complacency. It is necessary that strict measures to control and eradicate BSE are applied. Like all programmes, BSE control and eradication measures are kept under constant review to see if they can be improved or made more cost efficient in the light of operational experience, scientific knowledge and changing circumstances. Any adjustments, which this ongoing process indicates as necessary, will of course be pursued at the appropriate time, especially in the light of developments on the level of cases.