Vol. 470 No. 5
44 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to the recent remarks by a representative of the Irish Veterinary Union that there has been a significant increase in a number of diseases not previously common in Ireland as a result of the movement of imported livestock into the national herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18077/96]
I am aware of the remarks referred to by the Deputy. The importation of cattle and other livestock from other EU member states or third countries is governed by a number of EU measures which set out strict conditions for such imports, including requirements that the animals have tested negative for certain diseases and that they are accompanied by a health certificate issued by an authorised veterinarian in the country of dispatch. The requirements of the EU single market, however, preclude me from establishing animal health conditions over and above those set out at EU level.
As the Deputy will be aware, a number of farming, breeding and veterinary organisations, under the auspices of the RDS, produced an invaluable code of practice on the safer importation of cattle, sheep and goats in September 1995 while the National Pig Health Council has been operating successfully a similar code of practice in the pig sector for some time. I have on many previous occasions urged importers to follow closely the terms of these codes when importing livestock.
