Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
2138. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the plans to introduce mandatory six months testing for TB on bovine herds given that it will place an unnecessary burden and cost on farmers. [43501/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new TB Testing requirements being brought in are as a result of the new EU Animal Health Law that came into effect in April 2021. These new regulations require that where bovine animals are being moved from farm to farm or through marts, they must have been tested for TB within a certain time frame. The requirements are that:
All Bovines that are moving farm to farm or through a mart must be tested in the previous 6 months, and
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 new requirements are aimed at reducing the level of transmissible disease in animals, including bovines. These requirements are applicable across all EU member states.
The Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum which comprises of representatives from across the agri-food sector, leading researchers and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has agreed to the introduction of these mandatory requirements on a phased basis. These new measures should play a part in assisting the reduction of bTB in the years ahead.
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 over the age of 36 months. This first phase will come into effect on 1st February 2023. At present no date has been set for phase two, which will see the rule applied to all animals.
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 in such cases 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.
