Michael Ring
Question:303 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the need for segregation and regulations between scrapie monitored and non-scrapie monitored sheep at marts and agricultural shows. [20053/03]
Written Answers. - Animal Diseases.
Scrapie is not a genetic disease, although animals of particular genotypes are more susceptible to the infector agent than others. It is transmissible and may thereby affect flocks as well as individual animals.
The primary purpose of the scrapie monitored flock scheme is to permit participants to meet the export certification conditions for breeding sheep in so far as they relate to scrapie. These conditions are laid down in EU law and include,inter alia, a requirement that sheep intended for export for breeding have been kept continuously on a scrapie monitored holding since birth or for the last two years. Additionally, female sheep may only be introduced into these flocks from other monitored flocks.
These rules are in place to avoid the very real risk of spreading scrapie from non-scrapie monitored flocks to scrapie monitored flocks. While an entirely rigid interpretation of the rules might preclude the public sale of sheep from scrapie monitored sheep at all, my Department has sought to facilitate sales without prejudicing the status of scrapie monitored flocks. It has been possible to do so by permitting sales of monitored sheep subject to strict segregation rules.
As a result, I am happy to say that flock owners who have participated in the scrapie monitored flock scheme can continue to sell sheep at marts and shows with appropriate safeguards which protect the animal health status and the export potential of their flocks.