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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 5

Written Answers. - Pig Identification System.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

54 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the provisions of the new national pig identification and tracing system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20837/02]

The national pig identification and tracing system was launched last July, when a new registration and identification programme involving tagging, slap marking and movement documentation was implemented. The system covers all pig herds in the country. The second element of the programme, the notification of all movements of pigs to a central database to provide full national traceability, was implemented a month later. The notification system, which is paperless, has been designed to be user-friendly. Both elements of the scheme are operating very successfully and the speed with which producers, processors and others have adapted to it is evidence of a clear commitment on behalf of the pig sector to maintaining high standards of identification and traceability and an understanding of the importance of these elements in terms of disease control and consumer assurance.

The successful implementation of the identification and tracing elements has made possible the roll-out of the national Aujeszky's disease eradication programme, which involves blood-testing of all 1,700 pig herds in the country. Within months the testing will provide a platform from which to begin eradicating the disease from the national pig herd. This meets a long standing demand from the sector and will protect our pig exports and facilitate the further development of the Irish pigmeat sector.

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