Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 October 2022
275. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on concerns from farmers that the implementation of the EU Animal Health Law Regulations 2016/429 may distort competition by disincentivising the sale of cattle farm-to-farm or via marts in favour of directly to meat processing plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52124/22]
View answer276. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he expects the finance working group of the bovine TB stakeholder forum to report regarding the payment for any additional testing required arising from the implementation of the EU Animal Health Law Regulations 2016/429; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52125/22]
View answer277. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the aim and clause within the EU Animal Health Law Regulations 2016/429 requiring the new regulations applying specifically to males over the age of 36 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52126/22]
View answer278. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on his engagements with farmers regarding the phase two implementation of the EU Animal Health Law Regulations 2016/429; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52127/22]
View answer279. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposed requirements of phase two of the implementation of EU Animal Health Law Regulations 2016/429; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52128/22]
View answer280. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date of the meeting where the bovine TB stakeholders’ forum agreed to the introduction of mandatory requirements in relation to the EU Animal Health Law Regulations 2016/429; if agreement was forthcoming from the forum as a whole or by one of the working groups; and if so, which working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52129/22]
View answer281. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the phase 1 requirements of the EU Animal Health Law Regulations 2016/429 implemented by his Department allow any discretion regarding a herd being restricted if an animal does not meet the requirements and is not tested within 30 days, in the case of force majeure or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52130/22]
View answer282. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the work of the bovine TB stakeholders’ forum and the implementation, finance and scientific working groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52131/22]
View answer283. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the organisations that have representation on the bovine TB stakeholders’ forum; the members of each of the working groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52132/22]
View answer284. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current requirements regarding the testing of cattle for bovine TB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52133/22]
View answer287. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the new bTB regulations that have come into effect to date in 2022; those scheduled to come into effect in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52140/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284 and 287 together.
Under current EU and national legislation all bovine herds must undergo at least one annual herd screening TB test.
In herds where disease is suspected or confirmed, this will result in additional tests until my Department is satisfied that all relevant TB measures specific to that herd/area have been fulfilled. Further risk-based TB tests are also deployed as an effective means of finding disease and thus preventing onward spread of undetected infections.
In April 2021, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689, of 17th December 2019, supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and the Council, came into effect. Annex IV, Part 2, Section 2 of this regulation requires that for herds to maintain their TB Free Status and thus their ability to trade on the open market, all animals, over the age of six weeks, moving into their herds must be TB tested either within the 30 days prior to movement or within 30 days after movement into their herd. By way of derogation, this 30-day pre or post movement test is not required if both the animals that are moving and the herds from which they are moving have been tested in the previous six months. The aim of these regulations is to prevent and control animal diseases transmissible to animals or to humans.
These regulations are directly applicable across all EU member states and are mandatory in natur. While my Department can discuss the mechanics of their implementation with stakeholders, as the competent authority we are mandated by the EU to proceed with implementation. The implementation of these regulations has been discussed with the Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum on several occasions. It is to be noted that the majority of animals being moved currently satisfy the requirements.
The Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum which comprises of representatives from across the agri-food sector, leading researchers and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has agreed to the introduction of these mandatory requirements on a phased basis.
The first phase will come into effect on 1st February 2023.
For the first phase the requirements are that
- Cows of all ages, and males over the age of 36 months that are moving farm to farm or through a mart must be TB tested in the last 6 months and
- They must also be moving from a herd that has been tested in the last six months.
- If they do not fulfil both these requirements then they must then be tested, either within the 30 days prior to movement or within 30 days after movement into the new herd.
- Animals that require a test in the 30 days after movement will be restricted immediately to the herd into which they have moved.
- This means the animal cannot move from this herd other than directly to slaughter.
- This herd has 30 days to carry out a test on those animals.
- Once the animal tests clear the restriction on the animal will be automatically lifted.
- If after the initial 30 days, the animal is still alive and has not been tested then the herd will be automatically restricted, and no cattle will be allowed moved off the farm except directly to slaughter.
- Herds thus restricted may be allowed to move animals in during this period of restriction and may be allowed to move out calves, less than 6 weeks of age, but these calves are not eligible for export while the herd remains restricted.
- After 60 days if the animals in question have not been tested then the whole herd will be scheduled for a TB test.
- This in effect means that farmers, purchasing animals that require a 30-day post movement test will have up to 60 days to test or slaughter these animals without any further implications.
At present, no date has been set for implementation of the second phase, which will see the same requirements applied to all animals over the age of six weeks. The implementation of phase two will be discussed with the Implementation Working Group of the Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum after phase one has been implemented.
The implementation of the Bovine TB Eradication Strategy 2021-2030 is overseen by the Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum along with support from three working groups – a scientific group, an implementation group and a finance group to ensure that all aspects of the Strategy are addressed. The Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum and its working groups comprise of representatives from across the agri-food sector, leading researchers, farming organisations and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Please see the attached document detailing the relevant organisations.
The three working groups report to the Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum. The minutes in respect of all TB Forum and working group meetings are available for reference on
gov.ie - TB Forum (www.gov.ie)
On-going discussions are being held by the Financial Working Group in respect of the overall TB programme to ensure that the programme is funded in a sustainable manner into the future. Ultimately, measures to reduce the incidence of the disease will reduce the cost of the programme to farmers and taxpayers.
The Scientific Working Group which is composed of Irish and International researchers with a specific expertise on TB, are continually reviewing TB related scientific knowledge along with providing independent objective reports to the TB Stakeholders Forum which informs the discussion of policy options.
The stated purpose of the Implementation Working Group is to consider the details and modalities for the policies set out in the TB Eradication Strategy 2021-2030.
Most actions set out under the current TB strategy have either been implemented or are advancing well towards implementation. To make substantial further progress on TB in the 2023-2025 period, additional steps to build on the current strategy will be needed. The Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum has recently agreed to implement further actions and discussions are on-going on the implementation of these actions.
TB Forum Representative Organisations
Animal Health Ireland
Bord Bia
Independent Chair of the Bovine Tb Forum
Independent Chair of the Finance Working Group
Independent Chair of the Implemntation Working Group
Independent Chair of the Scientific Working Group
Coillte
Dairy Industry Ireland
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Independent Farmer
Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers Association
Irish Cooperative Organisation Society
Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association
Irish Farmers Association
Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association
Irish Wildlife Trust
Macra na Feirme
Meat Industry Ireland
National Parks & Wildlife Service
Ornua
Teagasc
UCD School of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Ireland
