Vol. 516 No. 5
179 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the policies, if any, of his Department to compensate farmers for the loss of earnings where an outbreak of BSE is reported; and the communication, if any, between his Department and the feed supplier to establish the source of the disease. [8508/00]
Compensation at current market value is paid in respect of the herds that are destroyed under the arrangements in place to deal with BSE. Following satisfactory cleansing and disinfection of the farm, herd repopulation is possible within 30 days. There is no legislative provision for consequential losses and loss of earnings.
An extensive epidemiological investigation is carried out by the official veterinarian on the farm on which the BSE animal was diagnosed. This pays particular attention to all concentrate rations purchased by the herdowner over the years. Samples are taken and a full traceback to the feed manufacturers-suppliers in question is undertaken. It is an offence to feed meat and bonemeal or feed containing such material to ruminants and severe penalties exist.
