Vol. 533 No. 5
54 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when he will recommence round testing for tuberculosis; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that vets are testing privately to allow for sale to factory; his views on whether it would be in the interest of disease control to test full herds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9121/01]
The 2001 TB and brucellosis round of herd testing was originally scheduled to commence on 5 March. However, because of the foot and mouth disease crisis it was deemed prudent to defer commencement of the programme. This situation is being kept under ongoing review and a revised commencement date for the new round will be announced in due course in the light of advice given to me by the foot and mouth advisory expert group.
In the meantime, essential testing of herds, for example, reactor retesting, contiguous testing particularly for brucellosis, backward and forward tracing, factory lesion testing etc. is continuing.
Private testing of animals, for sale purposes, requires the permission of the district veterinary office, DVO, and the rules in this regard have not changed. Where a herd test has been scheduled by the DVO permission for a private test of only some animals in the herd is refused and a full herd test must be completed in these circumstances.
In the present situation where, because of the postponement of the annual round test, a herd becomes "out of test" viz. not tested in the previous 12 months, permission for a private test of individual animals will again be refused as the total herd must be tested. Where an individual requests a herd test, where his or her annual test is due, this will be facilitated by the DVO.
