Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2023
440. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the licensing requirements for companies supplying AI services to farmers; what sanctions apply if the licensing requirements are not adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19126/23]
View answerBovine A.I. Field Service Licences (FSL) are issued by my Department in accordance with Statutory Instrument 19 of 2009. The Terms and Conditions attached to this licence include, inter alia, that the applicant is a legal personality within the State and that they own or operate an EU approved Germinal Centre. They must have an adequate level of resources to deliver traceability with regard to Zootechnical and Animal Health information and ensure records can be produced on request. FSL licence holders must have satisfactory access to sufficient supplies of semen from a range of bull breeds which have been selected through an officially approved testing and evaluation programme. The Regulations governing this area are currently being revised and a new Statutory Instrument is being drafted.
A FSL license requires the holder to have a written contract with its approved AI Technicians and to ensure they are adhering to the highest of traceability and disease prevention standards. AI Technicians are licensed by my Department under the Animal Health and Welfare (AI Technician Licence Regulations) 2019 (S.I No.431 of 2019). An AI Technician must be contracted to a specific FSL Holder and cannot operate independently.
Sanctions regarding the licensing of AI technicians are included in SI No 431 of 2019 while those regarding FSLs will be included in the new Statutory Instrument.
