Joe Callanan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

It is fair to state that Irish farmers fully understand the dangers of over-prescribing medicines to their stock. Strict tests are now in place to ensure no residues are present in beef, milk or other products. The Department of Agriculture and Food is aware of the view expressed on the possible impact of the draft regulations on competition of supply of veterinary medicines, particularly regarding the requirements of the EU directive that all veterinary medicines for food producing animals must be subject to prescription.

However, the directive also includes a provision for exemption criteria to be adopted at EU level, which will provide a mechanism for certain categories of medicine to be exempted from prescription requirement. The EU has not adopted a position on the exemption criteria but must do so by 1 January 2007. Pending this decision, existing national prescription and distribution arrangements may remain in place. It is Deputy Coughlan's intention to avail of the exemption clause to the maximum extent possible. Her Department has made a submission to the Commission with a view to retaining all products that currently enjoy a status of being available without prescription, other than intramammaries.

The draft regulation published by the Department of Agriculture and Food provides that veterinary medicines, wormers and certain vaccines will continue to be available without prescription for the time being. In practice, this means that apart from intramammaries, the Department is retaining the essence of its existing national prescription and distribution regime. In view of this, it is not necessary for competition reasons to extend the range of persons who may be permitted to prescribe. The Minister will review the regulations, in particular the provisions relating to the categories of persons who would be permitted to prescribe medicines, in light of the exemption criteria that will be agreed at EU level in due course.

It is evident the Minister believes her Department is doing everything possible, in so far as it has flexibility to do so, to create an environment to ensure there continues to be competition in the supply of veterinary medicines. Regarding the availability of veterinary practitioners to issue prescriptions, the draft regulations published by the Department of Agriculture and Food will substantially retain the existing regime on off-prescription products until 1 January 2007. This means that with the exemption of intramammary medicines, products available from pharmacies and licensed merchants will continue to be available from these outlets until that date.

It should be pointed out that veterinary practices are primarily commercial entities and their location is driven by commercial realities. In so far as Government involvement is concerned, attention should be drawn to the measures of the new Veterinary Practice Act which would help to address any shortage of Irish trained vets. For the first time, the Veterinary Council of Ireland will recognise qualifications from applicants in third countries. This, in tandem with the recent enlargement of the EU, should ensure the availability of practitioners from outside the State to meet any shortfalls.

I welcome the decision of the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, to ban imports of Brazilian beef into Ireland from the regions where foot and mouth disease has occurred. Her decision follows the confirmation of an outbreak of the disease in certain regions of Brazil. The ban is justified totally on grounds of human and animal health. While Irish farmers are rightly forced to accept rigorous standards in the interests of food safety and consumer protection, it is only just that imported products should meet the same criteria. Last year almost 8,000 tonnes of beef was imported into Ireland from Brazil, most of which was used in the catering industry, with no labelling required. I welcome the Minister's commitment to introduce new beef labelling legislation for the hotel and catering sector. However, I urge her to do so before the ban on Brazilian imports is lifted. This is in the best interests of Irish farmers and consumers alike.

I also welcome the reopening of the Egyptian trade for beef exports from Ireland. Over the past two weeks, export licences for Egypt amounting to 1,100 tonnes of beef have been taken out by the Department of Agriculture and Food. This once again underlines the international reputation of Irish beef as a quality product.

Finally, I wish the Minister well in her negotiations leading up to the World Trade Organisation talks.

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