Paul Kehoe
Question:137 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the details of the regulations regarding the carrying out of pre-departure inspections on pigs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28365/03]
Written Answers. - Veterinary Inspection Service.
Provisions for veterinary checks on the health of pigs prior to export are established at EU level in Council Directive 64/432/EEC as amended by Council Directive 97/12 EC. These directives are transposed into Irish legislation by S.I. No. 270 of 1997 and S.I. No. 5 of 2000.
For the purposes of providing a health certificate to accompany the animals to their destination, a veterinary inspector examines the pigs no more than 24 hours in advance of departure to ensure that they show no clinical sign of disease and have come from a disease-free holding. An identity check is also carried out on all animals for export. Exporters requiring a veterinary inspector to inspect and certify animals for export are requested to give at least two working days notice to the district veterinary office in question.
In addition Council Directive 91/628, as transposed by S.I. No. 98 of 1995, requires that the animals undergo a welfare check to ensure that they are fit for the intended transport and that they will be transported with due regard for their welfare.
Paul Kehoe
Question:138 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if Department veterinary inspectors who carry out pre-departure inspections on livestock can be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford earlier in the morning than the current arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28366/03]
For the purposes of providing a health certificate to accompany the animals to their destination, a veterinary inspector examines livestock no more than 24 hours in advance of export to ensure that they show no clinical sign of disease and have come from a disease-free holding. In addition, Council Directive 91/628, as transposed by S.I. No. 98 of 1995, requires that the animals undergo a welfare check to ensure that they are fit for the intended transport and that they will be transported with due regard for their welfare.
Resources within my Department are utilised as efficiently as possible and exporters requiring a veterinary inspector to inspect and certify animals for export are requested to give at least two working days notice to the district veterinary office in question to ensure that the examination may be organised in advance. It is not practical to accede to the request to carry out the inspections earlier in the morning than the current arrangement.