asked the Minister for Agriculture when he intends to declare the country or part of it officially brucellosis free, considering the constrictions imposed by the British authorities for heifer exports in October last and the potential for exports to third world countries.
Written Answers. - Brucellosis Eradication Programme.
148.
All the essential preconditions for declaring the national herd officially brucellosis free (OBF) have not yet been fulfilled. However my expectation is that, provided recent progress in the eradication programme is maintained, we will be in a position next spring, after the end of the current round of testing, to consider acceding to OBF status nationwide.
It would not be practicable or desirable to declare part of the national herd OBF at this stage, when the brucellosis eradication programme is reaching its final stages, as this would necessitate the introduction of severe restrictions on movement between herds and regions.