Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 3

Written Answers. - Illegal Cattle Insemination.

Michael Ring

Question:

156 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans, if any, he has to stop farmers who only have licences to inseminate their own herds from selling straws of bulls' semen and carrying out a field service, particularly when the straws supplied are from Northern Ireland. [4126/98]

Michael Ring

Question:

157 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans, if any, he has to introduce a licensing system whereby trained field operators can supply bulls' semen to farmers from any of the registered suppliers and confirm what restrictions are currently placed on this industry. [4127/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together.

The cattle artificial insemination service in Ireland is currently regulated by the Live Stock (Artificial Insemination) Act, 1947 and the Live Stock (Artificial Insemination) Regulations, 1948.

Under this legislation a person may not distribute or sell bull semen or practice the artificial insemination of cattle under and in accordance with a licence.

My Department has licensed 13 semen trading companies to sell and distribute bull semen. Eight AI organisations have been licensed to provide an AI field service and AI technicians employed by these organisations to deliver the service to farmers have been approved by my Department. Individual farmers have also been licensed to carry out artificial insemination of cattle in their own herds only. Through this structure the artificial insemination in each case may be performed using semen from any of the licensed AI service organisations or licensed semen trading companies provided the semen satisfies all the necessary animal health and zootechnical requirements laid down in legislation and licence conditions.

Intra-Community trade in bovine semen is governed by the European Communities (Trade in Bovine Breeding Animals, their Semen, Ova and Embryos) Regulations, 1996 — SI No. 112 of 1996. Under these Regulations any person may import semen into the State provided it is first consigned to an approved semen collection centre and it complies with all the relevant provisions of the 1996 Regulations and is accompanied by the required animal health and zootechnical certification.

The system for licensing AI service organisations under the 1947 Act is currently under review in my Department. However, in view of the veterinary and zootechnical control considerations involved, it is not intended to allow each AI technician to provide an independent semen sales and AI service. It is envisaged that, for the foreseeable future, it will be in the best interest of the cattle breeding industry for such services to be provided by organisations with all the necessary resources to ensure an effectively controlled and comprehensive quality service.

It is my intention to ensure that there will be full compliance with all the relevant national and EU legislation and AI licences and approvals issued thereunder.