Paul Bradford
Ceist:164 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on correspondence sent to his office relating to alleged BSE cohort animals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12215/99]
Written Answers. - Bovine Disease Controls.
All herds in which a BSE positive animal is diagnosed are slaughtered at a designated slaughter plant and subsequently destroyed by rendering and incineration. In addition, the progeny and the birth cohort animals, defined as those animals on the farm which were exposed to the same risk as the BSE case during the first six months of life, are also traced and destroyed in the same manner.
The herdowner involved in the correspondence referred to has on his farm two birth cohort animals from a herd in which BSE was diagnosed. The herdowner has not accepted the valuation placed on these animals by my officials and has refused to permit an independent valuation of the animals. He has also objected to the definition of birth cohort as set out above. Under the terms of S.I. 195 of 1990 my Department now intends to refer the dispute to an arbitrator whose decision is final and binding on all parties. The animals concerned can be compulsorily slaughtered under the provisions of section 17 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966.