asked the Minister for Agriculture if Ireland's freedom from foot and mouth disease over the past 40 years, due to our policy of exclusion, is not now being threatened by alterations to import controls which will bring us into line with the EEC Directives; and if in view of their lack of clinical experience, intensified efforts will be made to familiarise the veterinary profession with the clinical symptoms of the disease.
Written Answers. - Import Controls.
471.
The special trade arrangements which allowed this country to apply national controls to imports of fresh meat and live animals as a protection against foot and mouth disease will end on 31 December next. Trade will then take place on the basis of veterinary guarantees given by the country of export in accordance with Community legislation.
The Department of Agriculture veterinary staff are familiar with the symptoms of the disease and many of them were personally involved in the eradication measures during the 1967-68 outbreak in Britain. Periodic field exercises are arranged involving simulated outbreaks of foot and mouth disease to maintain awareness of the disease and of the measures needed to deal with any outbreak. Talks on the Department's foot and mouth contingency plans have also been given to the veterinarians in the private sector.
472.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he thinks that imminent alterations in import controls to bring us into line with EEC Directives, and which will end our policy of exclusion, are going to adversely affect our markets for livestock and meat products, which we have won due in no small part of our freedom over the past 40 years from foot and mouth disease.
The termination of the foot and mouth disease derogations at the end of 1984 will mean the substitution of Community controls for our national controls on imports of live animals and fresh meat from other member states and from third countries. The conditions to be laid down by the EEC in respect of such imports will take due account of the need to maintain this country's access to valuable export markets which have been developed over the years on the basis of our freedom from foot and mouth.