Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Mar 1997

Vol. 477 No. 1

Written Answers. - Control of Animal Diseases.

Austin Deasy

Question:

22 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will designate a single port where imported livestock will be assured of a thorough veterinary examination and thereby reduce the possibility of contagious diseases being transmitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6812/97]

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

59 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the strategy, if any, he is taking and the future plans, if any, he proposes to prevent the importation of animal diseases into Ireland; his views on whether legislation has failed to control such diseases in view of recorded incidences here of blue ear pig disease (Porcine Reproductive Respiratory Syndrome), Mycoplasma Bovis, BSE and Johnes disease varients; and his views on whether a more practical approach is required by applying provisions within EU legislation which permit protection of our special disease status. [7640/97]

Austin Deasy

Question:

79 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to the erosion of the disease-free status of our farm livestock as a result of the Single European Act; and the steps, if any, he intends to take to address the matter. [6811/97]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 59 and 79 together.

The conditions applicable to the import of livestock from other EU member states are set out in a number of EU Directives. These include,inter alia, requirements that the animals have tested negative for certain diseases and that they are accompanied by a health certificate issued by an authorised veterinarian in the country of dispatch. Strict conditions are laid down in those Directives as regards the introduction of additional health guarantees by member states in relation to such trade. These normally include requirements in relation to national surveillance and control programmes in the member state in question. Such guarantees are in place in Ireland in relation to diseases such as PRRS, transmissible gastro-enteritis, maedi visna and contagious agalactia. Except where otherwise prescribed by the directive in question, I am unable to apply additional health conditions to such trade.

Although it is not always possible to apportion the blame for an outbreak of a contagious disease in a herd or flock to imported or domestic animals, a small number of outbreaks of mycoplasma bovis, Johnes disease and warble fly infestation discovered in herds have been attributed by the veterinary services of my Department to imported animals. PRRS (also known as blue ear disease) has never been recorded in a pig herd here. As far as BSE is concerned, the last case of BSE in an imported animal occurred in 1994. The importation of all cattle from the United Kingdom is now prohibited. The nomination of a single port through which livestock must be imported would not be in accordance with the rules of the Single Market.

Voluntary codes of practice which set out additional health requirements in relation to the importation of the major livestock groups are in place and I have on many previous occasions urged importers to follow closely the terms of these codes when importing livestock.