John Deasy
Ceist:40 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the amount which has been spent on anti-scrapie measures in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13909/03]
Written Answers. - Animal Disease Controls.
I assume the Deputy is referring primarily to expenditure since December 2001, when the scrapie depopulation policy was introduced. This policy was introduced against the background of increasing concerns in Ireland and elsewhere about possible links between scrapie and BSE.
It is part of a multi-stream policy which includes compulsory notification, removal of specified risk materials from the human food and animal feed chains, active survelliance at slaughter houses and knackeries, and an element of genotyping.
Expenditure on scrapie control measures including slaughter costs but excluding SRM removal in 2003 to date, amounts to €1.4 million. The equivalent figure in 2002 is €14.4 million. In 2001, scrapie expenditure related only to purchase of scrapie testing kits. The costs involved amounted to €369,360.40.
For the present, it is the policy to depopulate flocks in which scrapie is diagnosed. While whole-flock depopulation will be continued for the time being, henceforth holdings which have been depopulated may be restocked with sheep after a minimum de-contamination period, usually one month, unless there is veterinary advice that the level of exposure to scrapie on the holding or other epidemiological factors indicate that a longer period is warranted.
My Department is continuing to review existing policy in light of new EU rules and operational experience to determine the extent of any further adjustments which might be desirable or necessary.