Vol. 536 No. 5
161 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has considered the results which emanated from the EU veterinary committee meeting on 15 May 2001 (details supplied); if he will permit a restricted form of trade to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14975/01]
163 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason transport movements involving large numbers of animals are not permitted; his views on whether movements involving large numbers of animals being moved in a single group to a single destination would facilitate easy tracing of movement, particularly where animals have been tested and the movement has been pre-advised to the receiving member state; and if he will make a statement on the matter [14979/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 163 together.
The foot and mouth crisis has highlighted the disease control risks that attach to widespread movement of animals. It has also underlined the need for continuous monitoring of animal movements. In that context, the EU Commission, in consultation with the Standing Veterinary Committee, has taken a number of decisions to restrict the movement of animals of species susceptible to foot and mouth.
The Commission decision of 15 May 2001 contains a number of elements that were not included in the extract supplied. While the decision eases certain restrictions in regard to the movement of species susceptible to foot and mouth disease, it extends the prohibition on the movement of animals through staging posts and maintains for an additional period certain restrictions on the movement of susceptible animals within the Community.
I have considered the decision carefully and have already taken the measures I feel are appropriate at this juncture to resume trade. Within this country cattle may be bought and sold for slaughter or further production, provided specified precautionary measures and permitting systems relative to FMD are observed. In addition, sheep and pigs may be sold for slaughter. In regard to live exports, the prohibition on the use of staging posts creates difficulties in relation to resumption of trade in cattle to most continental markets. However, I am considering practical and workable mechanisms whereby this trade can be resumed as soon as possible.
As regards transport movements involving large numbers of animals, the reality is that the risk of spread of disease increases according to the volume of animals moved and the circumstances in which such movements take place. While large-scale movements of animals in a single group to a single destination would facilitate easy tracing, they would not reduce the spread of any infection that might be present. Nevertheless, I have asked the marts to propose protocols for consideration by the expert group concerning the assembly of groups of animals for onward transfer to a single destination.
