Michael Ring
Question:81 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his plans to reduce the level of Exchequer subsidisation of BSE measures. [3962/03]
Written Answers. - Bovine Disease Controls.
Under EU legal requirements, all cattle over 30 months of age as well as fallen and casualty animals over 24 months of age must be rapid tested for BSE. As of 14 February 2003 part of the cost of testing all male animals over 30 month and female animals over 30 month born after 1 January 2000 will be passed to the industry. In addition, from 1 March 2003, the Exchequer will no longer subsidise rendering and disposal costs of meat plants. These changes will reduce the level of Exchequer subsidisation of BSE measures.
For the present, the cost of other elements of the BSE eradication and control programme will continue to be borne by the Exchequer. These include the testing of fallen animals, female animals over 30 months animals born prior to 1 January 2000 and the cohorts of BSE positive animals, the cost of herd depopulation, and the continued storage and ultimate disposal of meat and bone meal accumulated from 1 January 2001, when the feeding of meat and bone meal to all farmed animals was banned, to 1 March 2003. Part co-funding of BSE testing and herd depopulation measures will be continue to be provided by the EU Commission.
Like all programmes, BSE control and eradication measures are kept under constant review to see if they can be improved or 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 at the appropriate time.