Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 June 2004
94 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans he has to change the criteria for premises slaughtering animals with BSE from exclusive availability of the premises at all times for such slaughter; and the reasons for this change. [16675/04]
View answer101 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to the specifications for slaughter of BSE animals; if there are plans to change the present specifications in relation to the slaughter of animals for the Irish and international markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16949/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 101 together.
The current policy in relation to suspect BSE animals is to euthanase them on the farm of origin. I do not propose to change this policy. My Department also depopulates the whole cattle herd where a case of BSE has been confirmed and traces and slaughters any cohort or progeny animal of the BSE positive case.
At present these animals, which are not suspected of having BSE, are slaughtered in a dedicated plant. This plant has not always been exclusively dedicated to this function. However, with increasing numbers of BSE cases being identified following the introduction of active surveillance in the latter half of 2000, it became necessary for my Department to contract this plant on an exclusive basis, primarily to avoid delays for farmers whose herds were being slaughtered.
The current contract for the slaughter of BSE herds came into effect on 1 January 2001. With the welcome decline in the number of BSE cases in 2003 — 45% — and 2004 — 35% to date — my Department considers that a contractual arrangement entered into at a time when significant increases in the number of BSE cases were anticipated needs to be reviewed. Against this background, and in accordance with best practice, my Department has recently invited proposals from slaughter facilities to tender for this business.
Those submitting proposals are required to make their premises available exclusively to the Department on the days on which depopulated herds and other animals are to be slaughtered, and to adhere to all of the relevant statutory requirements, in particular those in Council Regulation 1774/2002 relating to the disposal of the resultant animal by-products. Standard operating procedures governing the cleaning and disinfection of the premises following the slaughter of depopulated herds will also be put in place. The successful tenderer will also be required to make its premises available within two days of being requested to do so by the Department, in order to avoid any delay for farmers whose herds are to be depopulated.
