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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Dec 2001

Vol. 545 No. 4

Written Answers. - Zoonotic Diseases.

Question:

174 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the pathogen reduction targets his Department has in place for production of breeding poultry, laying hens, broilers, turkeys and pigs. [30433/01]

At present, targets for the reduction of zoonotic diseases are set out in Commission Decision 92/117/EEC of 17 December 1992. Ireland is in conformity with the provisions of this directive. Ireland is one of only seven member states with an EU approved national salmonella plan and has a targeted policy of slaughtering flocks from breeding poultry and laying hens detected with strains of salmonella having consequences for human health.

Discussions are currently taking place at an EU Council working group to adopt a further set of regulations to revise the measures set out in Directive 92/117/EC and deal in a more comprehensive way with the control of zoonotic diseases. Among the measures contained in these draft regulations is the use of Community targets for the reduction in the prevalence of zoonoses and zoonotic agents in poultry breeding flocks, laying hens, broilers, turkeys and breeding herds of pigs. The intention is to have these targets in place and implemented in all member states on a phased basis between the years 2004 and 2009.

Ireland, as previously stated, is already carrying out the policies necessary to achieve the existing target for breeding poultry and the proposed target in relation to laying hens and has supported the Belgian Presidency's proposal to adopt new targets for broilers, turkeys and breeding herds of pigs.
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