Vol. 542 No. 5
152 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the position regarding the elimination of BSE; the number of cases to date; if numbers are on the increase or decrease; if full compensation has been paid or will be paid in all cases arising from depopulation; if suspected and associated animals are removed at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25131/01]
There have been 737 confirmed cases of BSE to date – up to 18 October – since 1989. Of this total, 157 cases have been confirmed in 2001 to date. In addition 3 positive cohort animals have been detected in 2001. The increase in 2001 is attributable to more intensive active surveillance, particularly among fallen animals which would not, in any event, have entered the human food chain. This year, 81 cases have been detected through traditional passive surveillance and 76 cases through active surveillance. Of the cases identified through active surveillance, 53 were fallen animals identified in knackeries, 21 were over 30-month animals in meat plants and 2 were casualty animals also at meat plants.
My Department has a comprehensive range of measures in place for the control and eradication of BSE, including compulsory notification of the disease, the depopulation of herds, the tracing and slaughter of birth cohorts and progeny of the infected animal, a ban on the use of meat and bone meal for farmed animals and the removal and destruction of specified risk materials from ruminant animals. In addition all cattle over 30 months of age presented for slaughter are tested for BSE and all fallen and casualty animals over 24 months of age are also tested for the disease. Moreover, unlike many other member states whose BSE controls were tightened up at the end of 1999, none of the positive animals identified in Ireland to date have been born after May 1996. This indicates that the enhanced controls introduced in this country in 1996 are working, and that the disease should begin to work its way out of the national herd as older cattle leave the system.
In relation to depopulation, my Department's policy is to depopulate herds and cohorts as quickly as possible once agreement is reached on valuation. Compensation is based on full market value for the animals.
