Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 3

Written Answers. - Bovine Disease Controls.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

72 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his Department has given consideration to screening all imported cattle for Johne's disease because of emerging evidence that it is linked to Crohn's disease in humans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3862/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I am not aware of any particularly new evidence supporting a link between Johne's disease in cattle and Crohn's disease in humans.

My Department consulted the European Commission in relation to the suggested link. The report of the scientific committee on animal health and welfare on possible links between Crohn's disease and paratuberculosis, Johne's disease, which was published by the Commission in 2000, concluded that there was insufficient evidence to draw any firm conclusion about the suggested link between these two diseases. My Department also referred the matter to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI, for an opinion on the matter and the scientific committee of the FSAI advised that there "is insufficient evidence to confirm a link between Johne's disease and Crohn's disease". My Department continues to monitor the scientific evidence as it becomes available.

It is not possible under EU law to screen imported cattle for Johne's disease. It may well also be the case that any State agency promoting a voluntary screening of imported cattle for this disease may be of itself be in breach of Articles 28 and 29 of the Treaty on European Union which prohibits member states placing restrictions on imports and all measures having an equivalent effect.

Unless and until there is sufficient scientific evidence to confirm a direct link between Johne's and Crohn's diseases it is unlikely that such restrictions can be justified on grounds of,inter alia, the protection of public health especially given the endemic nature of this disease in other member states.

However, there is nothing to prevent any prospective purchaser from requiring private certification with regard to freedom from Johne's disease, from a vendor in respect of the purchase of cattle either imported from abroad or sourced within this country. This is a prudent precaution which will protect the purchasing herdowner and his-her animals and I would urge herdowners generally to take such a precaution when purchasing cattle.

My Department in an effort to raise consciousness of the disease and to promote higher standards of hygiene management practices and calf rearing published and distributed two booklets in 2002 on Johne's disease; one of these is aimed at the farmer and the other at the private veterinary practitioner. Notwithstanding this and other measures, including the purchase and slaughter by my Department of diseased animals, and in some cases entire herds, I have come to the conclusion that the approach which this country has hitherto adopted to tackling the disease needs to be reviewed. The numbers of reported cases of the disease have been increasing significantly in recent years and I believe we now need a new and more resolute approach. It is abundantly clear that the prospects of success on this front are very much dependent on a concerted and sustained effort by all of the interested parties to address the disease. Such interested parties include farmers and others who import, sell and buy livestock, farmer representative bodies, co-operatives, breed societies, the veterinary profession and my Department. I am currently examining ways in which we can more effectively marshal the resources of all of these parties so as to give a new direction and momentum to our efforts to tackle Johne's disease in the national herd and to enhance the prospects of making real progress in this regard. I expect to be in contact with all concerned shortly.