Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 3

Written Answers. - Livestock Traceability.

Brendan Smith

Question:

287 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the progress, if any, which has been made in relation to the introduction of a computerised system for the traceability of livestock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23367/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

Good progress has been made in providing computer facilities in relation to identification and tracing of bovine animals. The Deputy will be aware that I recently launched a new computer facility which has been made available to my control staff at meat plants and export points throughout the country to enable them validate the identity of male animals being presented.

In addition, arrangements are well advanced for establishing a single computer file which will bring together relevant information on all cattle from data which is already available on various Departmental computer systems or which is amenable to being readily input to a computer. This new system, which will be known as the animal location file will be available to the Department's control staff throughout the country around the end of the year. It will include data from the following sources: database of headage premium schemes; animals recorded in ERAD special category herds; animals registered under the new calf registration system; animal slaughterings at meat plants and local abattoirs and animals exported live. These measures will provide significant additional reassurance as regards the origin and status of cattle and beef. The provision of a fully comprehensive and computerised system of traceability for cattle, incorporating data on all individual animal movements, will take some time. A Departmental group will shortly complete its consideration of all aspects of the requirements of such a computerised system. I will give priority to putting that system in place at the earliest possible date.