Vol. 546 No. 3
152 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will investigate the circumstances (details supplied) in which an animal sent to a meat factory for slaughter was returned to its owner the following day due to a tag being lost during transit. [31879/01]
The animal concerned was found, on its arrival at the meat factory, to be missing an eartag. The tagging of bovine animals is a very important element of animal identification for traceability within the food chain. Under the provisions of the Bovine Tuberculosis (Attestation of the State and General Provisions) Order, 1996 (S.I. No. 103 of 1996) it is the herdowner who is responsible for the tagging of animals in his herd.
