Paul Connaughton
Ceist:167 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the regulations regarding the restrictions and the conditions under which artificial insemination operators can operate here. [13400/03]
Written Answers. - Animal Breeding Regulations.
Bovine artificial insemination in Ireland is regulated by the Live Stock (Artificial Insemination) Act 1947 and the Live Stock (Artificial Insemination) Regulations 1948. Under this legislation a person may not distribute or sell bull semen or practice the artificial insemination of cattle except under and in accordance with a licence issued by my Department. In addition to the regulatory provisions already outlined, the European Communities (Trade in Bovine Breeding Animals, Their Semen, Ova and Embryos) Regulations 1996, implemented by my Department, also apply.
The bovine semen distribution network in Ireland is composed of AI organisations and semen collection centres and semen distribution companies. All companies and organisations operating in the network must be licensed by my Department. As part of the control process licensed companies are subject to on-site inspections by officials of my Department.
AI technicians, operating on behalf of these organizations to deliver the service to farmers, must have a licence issued by my Department under the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (Restriction on Artificial Insemination) Order. Individual farmers must also have a licence from my Department to carry out artificial insemination of cattle in their own herds only.