Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 23 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 1

Written Answers - Beef Assurance Scheme.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

16 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reasons the national beef assurance scheme and the animal traceability scheme have not been implemented; the reason both schemes are being delayed; if his attention has been drawn to the importance of both schemes in relation to the marketing of Irish beef abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9398/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

A very considerable amount of preparatory work has been finalised in regard to the national beef assurance scheme. The introduction of a comprehensive animal identification and tracing system is one of the major elements of the scheme. The other main element is the establishment of integrated protocols of standards from production to processing to be enforced through a system of registration and approval for participants.

The scheme will be implemented later this year. Discussions are taking place with all interested parties in the industry regarding the details of the protocols and the practical implementation of standards and it is hoped that these discussions will be completed shortly. The process of registering and approving participants will then follow.

Many elements of an animal identification and tracing system are already operational, including bovine tagging, cattle passports, calf birth registration and a computerised animal location file. The final element of animal traceability will come into operation later this year with the introduction of the computerised cattle movement monitoring system. This system involves the collection of animal movement data electronically from marts, meat plants and live export points and the use of a paper notification system to record other movements. It is a massive task which entails recording the many millions of movements of cattle each year and the use of this data to validate the life history of cattle before they enter the food chain. The detailed arrangements such as development of computer programme, installation of computer equipment and training are already well advanced and will be completed over the coming months.

The introduction of the national beef assurance scheme will provide important guarantees regarding food safety to all consumers of Irish beef at home and abroad and it is important that it is introduced as quickly as possible. I believe that this is acknowledged by all elements of the industry and with the commitment and co-operation of the different interests the objective of the scheme can be achieved.