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Veterinary Medicines

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020

Tuesday, 8 December 2020

Questions (819)

Seán Canney

Question:

819. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a proposal by the forum of a group (details supplied) to conduct an economic impact assessment in advance of the implementation of EU Regulation No. 2019/6 on veterinary medicinal products which is due to come into effect in January 2022; if his attention has been drawn to the financial hardship that it will cause to farmers, particularly small farmers who are the economic bedrock of many rural areas and also to their farm suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41525/20]

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Written answers

My Department has engaged extensively over the past 18 months with all stakeholders to work through the implementation of Regulation 2019/6. I am acutely aware of significant concerns being raised about the potential impact of the Regulation on some stakeholders. 

In light of this, my Department established an Antiparasitic Resistance Stakeholder Group in June 2020 which is chaired by the Chief Veterinary Officer. Licenced Merchants, Co-Ops and farming organisations which represent and provide services to the farming community across rural Ireland are represented on this Group. The third meeting of the Group will take place on 9 December and a programme of work containing over 30 antiparasitic related projects is underway.  This group will examine all the issues related to the changed route of supply of antiparasitics for food producing animals with two principal objectives

- Protecting the efficacy of antiparasitics which are critical to the Irish pasture-based production model for the benefit of farmers.

- Establishing a regulatory system that is pragmatic, retains a substantive role for existing stakeholders and delivers value for money for farmers.

My Department as part of the Antiparasitic Stakeholder Group has committed to conducting a Regulatory Impact Assessment on the EU Regulation which is underway at the current time. This process essentially addresses the same issues that an economic impact assessment would. The RIA will focus on areas where Ireland has national discretion with regards transposing the Regulation and specifically where intended policy decisions may impact stakeholders. The Assessment which evaluates all the impacts, costs and benefits of the proposed policies, cannot be finalised until the relevant policy options have been examined which will be informed by stakeholder consultations.

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