Joe Costello
Question:45 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his Department has proposals to phase out BSE prevention programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3877/03]
Written Answers. - Bovine Disease Controls.
The BSE control and eradication measures in Ireland are among the most comprehensive in the world. The value of these measures can now be seen in the positive underlying trend in relation to BSE. In the period 1 August – 31 December 2002, the number of cases, at 122, was 32% less than the number – 179 – in the corresponding period in 2001. This trend is continuing in 2003. In addition, the age profile of cases detected continues to increase. In 2002 some 2% of cases were identified in animals less than six years old at the time of diagnosis, compared with 16% in 2001 and 40% in 2000. The increasing age profile of animals in which the disease is confirmed is a positive indication that the enhanced controls introduced in 1996 and 1997 are having the desired effect and that the incidence of BSE will continue to decline as older animals leave the system.
These positive trends have not, however, given rise to any complacency in my Department. It is necessary that we will continue to insist on the strict application of measures to control and eradicate BSE. Most of these measures, such as compulsory notification, the ban on meat and bonemeal, active surveillance for BSE in factories and knackeries, the ban on permitting specified risk materials to enter the human food or animal feed chains and the slaughter of cohorts and progeny of BSE infected animals are now required by EU law although a number of them were being applied in Ireland long before they became compulsory at EU level. Ireland cannot unilaterally decide to discontinue such measures. Others, such as whole herd depopulation are optional and based on national rules.
Like all programmes, BSE control and eradication measures are kept under constant review and are enhanced and made more cost efficient in the light of operational experience, scientific knowledge and changing circumstances. Any adjustments which this ongoing process indicates as necessary will of course be made. However, while trends in BSE in this country are now manifestly positive and the disease is being successfully tackled in other EU member states also, we are still some considerable way from the point at which BSE prevention programmes at either national or EU levels could be phased out.
Question No. 46 answered with Question No. 31.
John Perry
Question:47 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of animals imported in 2002 to restock herds depopulated due to BSE, TB and brucellosis; and the way in which these are checked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3990/03]
Regulations governing the import of live cattle are, in the main, laid down in EU directives and are designed, in the context of a single European Market, to facilitate trade while protecting human and animal health. The main animal health requirements for intra-Community trade in cattle are that the animals must be individually identified, accompanied by their passports and an intra-Community health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the holding of origin certifying that the animals have in the last 30 days undergone negative tests for TB, leucosis and where appropriate brucellosis. CSO trade statistics indicate that in the year 2002, a total of 1,834 bovines were imported, all in compliance with the above animal health rules. Statistical records in the format sought by the Deputy are not maintained centrally by my Department.