Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
2122. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be changes to TB testing requirements to include pre and post-movement testing; if so, if this will be mandatory going forward; the way that it is proposed to finance such testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42870/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new EU Animal Health Law came into effect in April 2021. In the case of Bovine TB, these new regulations , require that where animals are being moved from farm to farm or through marts, they must have been tested within a certain time frame. The requirements are that
1. All Bovines that are moving farm to farm or through a mart must be tested in the previous six months, and
2. They must also be moving from a herd that been tested in the last six months.
If they do not fulfil both of these requirements, they must be tested, either within the 30 days prior to movement or within 30 days after movement into the new herd. These requirements are applicable across all EU member states.
The Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum has agreed to the introduction of these mandatory requirements on a phased basis.
Where animals that move do not satisfy the two testing-interval requirements, the initial phase of implementation will see the requirement for either pre- or post-movement test activated in respect of cows of all ages and male animals greater than 36 months of age. This first phase will come into effect on 1st February 2023. No date has been set for phase two, which will see the rule applied to all animals but these changes will only be implemented in consultation with farm representatives.
The responsibility to ensure that animals are tested in compliance with these requirements ultimately rests with the purchaser of the animals. Animals that require a test in the 30 days after the movement will be restricted immediately to the herd into which they have moved. This herd has 30 days to carry out a test on those animals. If after 30 days, the animals have not been tested then the herd that received them will be restricted. If after another 30 days, the animals have still not been tested then the whole herd will be scheduled for a TB test.
The majority of animals being moved currently satisfy these time intervals and so no additional testing will be required.
Herd owners either selling or buying animals can time their annual herd test to coincide with the sale or purchase of animals. If a herd owner wishes to re-schedule their annual herd test to an earlier date, to facilitate the sale or purchase of animals, they should contact their Regional Veterinary Office.
Herd owners may test those animals that have been moved in as part of their annual herd test or as part of any other Department-paid test where one is scheduled for completion, e.g., contiguous tests or post de-restriction check tests.
