Phil Hogan
Ceist:27 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his plans to deal with Johne’s disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14751/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 20 May 2004
Ceisteanna (28, 29)
Freagraí scríofa
In an effort to raise awareness and to promote higher standards of hygiene management practices and calf rearing, my Department published two booklets in 2002 on Johne's disease, one of these was aimed at farmers and the other at private veterinary practitioners. These booklets detail the precautions individual farmers should take to keep the disease out of their herds and highlight that effective control measures involve prudent purchasing policies and calf rearing practices. These booklets are currently available at each of my Department's district veterinary offices and can also be viewed on the Department's website.
Until 2003, measures taken by my Department included the purchase and slaughter of diseased animals, and in some rare cases entire herds. However, the disease situation has led to the conclusion that this approach did not contain the disease and that expenditure on the purchase and slaughter of animals was no longer sustainable. Therefore a decision was taken, in 2003, to review the Department's policy on the disease and to cease the practice of purchase and slaughter of suspected or affected animals.
The review essentially involved examining and agreeing ways in which the resources of all interested parties could be focused so as to give a new direction and momentum to efforts to tackle Johne's disease in the national herd. As an initial step in formulating a new approach, my Department met with key parties such as Teagasc, Veterinary Ireland, the cattle breeding societies, dairy co-operatives, the farming representative bodies and others. This process was both worthwhile and successful in gaining a general recognition and understanding of the problem and securing an acceptance that success is achievable only if all concerned make a sustained commitment to tackling the problem.
As a result, the Department is currently drawing together the various outputs and will bring the matter to the next phase. I am anxious that any new approach to tackling the problem of Johne's disease is put in place with the minimum of delay so that headway can be made in dealing with the problem.
To date in 2004, and on the basis of an identified need to generate rapidly an increased level of awareness among both farm advisers and veterinary surgeons, both Teagasc and Veterinary Ireland, with my Department's participation, organised a series of workshops for members of both organisations. In addition to raising awareness among these key players, this initiative was intended to ensure that correct, consistent advice is given to farmers regarding on-farm general disease control, calf-rearing and general management practices, all of which are relevant to tackling Johne's disease.
My Department will, over the coming months, and in conjunction with the key parties, progress work on some of the longer-term elements of what will eventually become a fully integrated, multi-partner approach to tackling the disease. This next phase of the exercise will involve identifying and establishing appropriate sampling and testing regimes, developing criteria whereby resources can be concentrated within the livestock and dairy sectors on farmers whose participation in a sustained Johne's programme will best further the aim of reversing the trend in the disease and working up a commercial rationale whereby farmers will wish in their own interests to take steps to avoid importing the disease into their herds.
Joe Sherlock
Ceist:28 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on regulating veterinary practices in the enlarged EU to fight epidemics such as foot and mouth disease; his further views on whether it will be possible to impose regulations in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14771/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraNew member states of the European Union are required to adopt the Community acquis, including those elements relating to animal health and welfare. Requirements for disease eradication and control, surveillance, animal health certification and contingency plans for dealing with class A disease outbreaks apply equally to new member states. The EU Commission will, through its Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, continue to co-ordinate responses to disease outbreaks in EU member states and third countries in the usual way.
In these circumstances I see no need for the present for any additional regulation in this area aimed specifically at new member states.