Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 2

Written Answers. - Bovine Disease Controls.

Tony Gregory

Question:

66 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if the policy of allowing meat from reactor cattle to enter the food chain will be urgently reviewed in view of changes in French law and the changes being considered in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26121/00]

Tony Gregory

Question:

67 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the numbers of reactor cattle whose meat entered the food chain here during 1999. [26122/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together.

Bovine animals which react positively to either a TB or brucellosis test must, by law, be removed to an approved export premises for slaughter. EU Directive 64/433, which legislates for intra-community trade in fresh meat, requires that all such animals are given a detailed veterinary examination and in this regard my Department maintains a permanent veterinary presence at all export slaughter premises. However, due to the high frequency of testing only some of these animals will have developed clinical disease and a proportion will in fact be false positives to the tuberculin test. Each of the reactors is subject to a full ante and post-mortem inspection, the results of which determine eligibility for entry to the food chain.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland recently reviewed the arrangements in place and is satisfied that there are no public health implications involved. Given that TB and brucellosis is now virtually eradicated in France, the recent legislative changes are thought to be part of a marketing strategy rather than a response to any food safety concerns.