Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Dec 2002

Vol. 559 No. 2

Written Answers. - Animal Identification.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

126 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the extent to which he has put in place traceability and husbandry standards to ensure the future status of the beef industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26133/02]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The cattle animal identification and tracing system, CMMS, has been fully operational since the beginning of 2000. The system is used, inter alia, to verify the origin, life history and identity of cattle before they enter the food chain and thus provide assurances to customers and consumers about the safety of Irish beef. The system has played an important role in the drive to maintain and expand market share for Irish beef.

The National Beef Assurance Scheme Act, 2000 also provides for common high standards of production and processing across the beef industry. Under the scheme, all participants are required to undergo a registration, inspection and approval process. This element of the scheme, in particular the inspection and approval of farms, was to be undertaken in conjunction with the annual round of testing. Detailed discussions have taken place over a long period with the veterinary and farming organisations and a protocol for the conduct of the inspections was agreed. However, only a small number of inspections have taken place to date because of resistance to implementation of the scheme mainly by veterinarians whose union is seeking a centralised payment system for the costs involved.