EU rules in relation to sheep flocks in which scrapie is confirmed require member states either to slaughter infected flocks in their entirety and prohibit re-stocking with sheep for three years from the date of slaughter, or alternatively to determine the susceptibility of the animals to scrapie by genotyping, and slaughter the more scrapie susceptible animals only.
A total of 16 new flocks have been confirmed with scrapie in 2004 to date. Sheep in flocks in which scrapie has been confirmed since 1st October, 2003 are genotyped free of charge by my Department to determine their genetic susceptibility to scrapie and the more scrapie susceptible animals are slaughtered as required by EU legislation.
The package for farmers whose flocks are affected includes free genotyping of the flock, genotyping of a limited number of replacement rams, payment of market value less salvage value for sheep required to be slaughtered which are fit for the food chain, payment of full market value for sheep which, by virtue of their genotype, are required to be destroyed and a supplementary payment of €28 per ewe required to be destroyed.
In so far as the market rate for lambs is concerned, I have already adjusted the package in this regard so that lambs sent for destruction are attracting a market rate equal to the average factory rate in the week of slaughter. I have no plans to further adjust the compensation package for the present.