Bernard J. Durkan
Question:129 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the degree to which animal disease eradication here compares with other EU states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29482/03]
Written Answers. - Animal Diseases.
Maintaining Ireland's high status in animal health and welfare is of critical importance given the economic and social importance of agriculture to the country. This country has an excellent record in dealing with animal diseases in the most effective and efficient manner having regard to all relevant national and international legal requirements.
In the context of a single European market, the framework for preventing, controlling and dealing with animal disease outbreaks is laid down in European law. In Ireland, we are diligent in the application of EU rules and, in many instances, have been proactive in our approach to animal disease prevention, exceeding minimum EU rules where this is considered to be in the best interests of consumers and the agri-food sector. Each year, Ireland submits programmes for bovine brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis which are deemed eligible for funding from the EU veterinary fund. The Commission reviews and assesses such programmes and monitors progress and compliance with the technical provisions of relevant Community veterinary legislation.
In addition, in 2002 Ireland commenced operating an Aujeszky's disease eradication programme. The number of positive holdings disclosed under the programme is low. A compulsory vaccination programme is imposed and an approved eradication plan applied for each positive herd. The official status of the member states is detailed in Commission Decision 618/2001.
In the case of BSE, my Department has adopted a proactive approach to disease prevention, introducing controls on the feeding of meat and bonemeal and the use of specified risk materials before they became mandatory at EU level. This approach has helped to keep Ireland out of the high incidence BSE category and has permitted Irish exporters to continue to sell beef and live animals on EU and third markets during a time of crisis in which similar exports from the UK and Portugal were banned. We are now reaping the long-term rewards of that approach, with a reduction of 46% in the number of BSE cases to date this year, 168, compared with the corresponding number last year, 313. The reducing number of cases and the increasing age profile of animals in which the disease is confirmed is a positive indication that the incidence of the disease will continue to decline next year and thereafter as older animals leave the system.
In addition, while Ireland is free of many exotic diseases, contingency plans have been prepared for classical swine fever, Newcastle disease, avian influenza and foot and mouth disease. A contingency plan is also being prepared on bluetongue. Decisive action taken during the foot and mouth disease crisis in 2001 resulted in keeping the number of cases to just one, and permitted Ireland to regain its FMD free status in a relatively short space of time.
The lessons learnt during that time have not been forgotten. Many measures introduced during that time, such as the strong legislative base for disease control introduced in the Disease of Animals (Amendment) Act 2001, new rules on the registration and control of dealers, a national system for the identification and traceability of sheep and the application of full intra community rules on veterinary health certification of live animals imported from Northern Ireland, remain in place today. Further developments since that time include a national pig identification and traceability system and a comprehensive Aujesky's disease programme.
My Department will continue to promote best practice in animal health and welfare in Ireland and in Europe, in a manner which protects consumers in the first instance and Ireland's critically important agri-food sector.