Vol. 521 No. 6
26 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of Irish cattle herds infected with brucella abortus; the number of households where unpasteurised milk is consumed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17779/00]
There are currently 337 cattle herds restricted following the disclosure of brucellosis reactors. However of these, 111 herds have had two or more clear tests and further tests will be carried out in the other 226 herds. It is my Department's policy to depopulate all reactor herds where active infection is established. Where reactors are disclosed, herdowners are advised immediately, inter alia, of the restrictions on disposing of milk from reactor animals, that they should never consume unpasteurised milk and the other precautions that they should take to protect public and animal health.
The placing on the market of raw milk for direct human consumption in that condition is forbidden. However, it is not unlawful for milk producers to use it in their own households. My Department does not have figures for the number of households where unpasteurised milk is consumed but it is estimated that such consumption is quite low.
