Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I am particularly pleased to have the opportunity to address the House about the issue of avian influenza, or "bird 'flu", to which it is often referred. The issue has generated a tremendous amount of publicity in recent months, particularly since the confirmation of the presence of the high pathogenic H5N1 virus in Russia and Kazakhstan during the summer and, in the past week or so, in Turkey and Romania. The House will also be aware of the reported outbreak on the Greek island of Chios. If this latter suspect case is confirmed, it will represent the first outbreak of high pathogenic avian influenza in the European Union since an outbreak in the Netherlands in 2003.

We have had previous experience of high pathogenic avian influenza, most recently in 1983 and several outbreaks of the low pathogenic virus since. In all cases, the outbreaks were eradicated quickly. The apparent western drift of the disease is, of course, a matter for concern and we share the opinion expressed by the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Affairs that the most recent developments are "worrying". Our consistent approach has been to be measured in our response to the risk and to initiate such precautionary measures as we consider proportionate, based on an assessment of that risk. My Department has been constantly reviewing its contingency arrangements in the light of any emerging information and on the basis of the most up-to-date veterinary, scientific and ornithological information available.

Before advising the House of the measures taken in response to the risk of the disease being introduced into Ireland, I will make a few points about avian influenza. It is a highly infectious disease of birds that rarely infects humans and, only then, through very close contact with infected birds. The World Health Organisation has reported that, since December 2003 in south-east Asia, 117 people have contracted the disease of whom 60 have died. Notwithstanding these 60 unfortunate deaths, the WHO takes the view that the experience in that region "indicates that human cases of infection are rare". It is also worth saying that there are no confirmed cases of human-to-human transmissions of the disease.

On Friday last, the EU Standing Committee on Animal Health and the Food Chain expressed the opinion that "the public is far less likely to be exposed in Europe than in Central Asia and the Far East because of the generally greater separation of humans and commercially kept birds in Europe." These points are worth making to illustrate that, at a time when over 150 million birds have died or been destroyed in the region, a relatively small number of human cases — 117 in all — have been recorded in four countries with a combined population of more than 400 million people. Furthermore, those cases occurred in quite different circumstances from those which apply, not alone in Ireland, but throughout Europe.

The principal threat to public health is of a possible mutation or a genetic change in the avian virus that could lead to the virus transforming into a new strain of influenza capable of human-to-human transmission. Responsibility for preparing for and dealing with any human pandemic that might follow such an eventuality rests with the Department of Health and Children and its agencies.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is focused on implementing measures aimed at minimising the risk of introduction of avian influenza into Ireland and, in the event of any outbreak, ensuring that it is detected early and eradicated quickly. Early detection is a central part of our contingency arrangements and I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the national parks and wildlife service, the National Association of Regional Game Councils andBirdWatch Ireland, all of which have been enthusiastic partners of the Department of Agriculture and Food in ensuring the effectiveness of our early warning system. Through this arrangement, unusual or increased patterns of wild bird mortality are notified and will, where appropriate, be fully investigated. This important measure is complemented by Ireland's annual avian influenza surveillance plan, as part of which 20,000 samples are serologically screened annually from clinically sick birds as well as commercial layer flocks prior to export.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is working very closely with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland. Representatives of the two Departments have met twice in the past month to consider their respective approaches to the risk of disease introduction and have undertaken to exchange the results of their respective wild bird surveillance programmes. Steps have also been taken to increase awareness of the disease and the measures which poultry flockowners and travellers can take to minimise the risk of introducing disease into the country. The Department has updated its advice on the bio-security measures which should be taken by flock owners as well as publishing the clinical symptoms to watch out for. In addition, advice to those travelling to and from affected areas has been updated and published in the national newspapers. The Department intends to step up its awareness campaign over the coming weeks and months using a variety of media, including its website and the national newspapers as well as posters at points of entry and exit to and from the country.

Apart from the domestic measures which my Department has introduced, the EU has also been responding swiftly to the increased risk of the disease being introduced into the Union. In January 2004, by way of response to the December 2003 outbreaks in south-east Asia, the EU introduced a series of safeguard measures that effectively banned the importation into the EU of live poultry, poultry products other than heat-treated poultry meat, and treated feathers. These measures have now been extended until September 2006 and have since been applied to the more recently affected countries of Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Romania. The ban is being implemented at Irish border inspection posts and my Department's inspectors are being supported in this regard by the customs and excise service which has assured the Department of its full co-operation and assistance.

Last Friday, the EU Standing Committee on Animal Health and the Food Chain, unanimously agreed a Commission decision requiring member states to assess the risk of H5N1 being introduced into poultry holdings. The various measures to be taken by individual member states are to be taken on the basis of a risk assessment, taking account of the criteria and risk factors set out in the decision. Senators can be assured that Ireland will fully meet its obligations under the decision and will implement such measures as are appropriate in an Irish context.

I assure the House that my Department has been very proactive in stepping up its level of preparedness over the past number of months and has consistently adopted a measured approach to the threat based on an assessment of the risk of an outbreak. The Department is an active participant at EU level and is constantly reviewing the adequacy of its contingency arrangements. It has introduced a series of measures which it considers appropriate to the current level of risk and will not hesitate to introduce any such further measures as considered proportionate.

On the subject of imports of meat from third countries, as a member of the European Union and the World Trade Organisation, Ireland is in a position to avail of trade opportunities and is obliged to respect the obligations membership of such organisations may bring. To minimise any risks that might be associated with trade with third countries there are harmonised rules governing the importation of animal products such as meat. It is a general requirement that animal products imported into the EU from third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between, EU member states. All meat imports must therefore come from third countries or areas of third countries approved for export to the EU.

The EU Food and Veterinary Office, FVO, carries out audits of the controls in place in third countries. In order to become an approved third country a country must appear on a list drawn up and updated on the basis of EU audits and guarantees given by the competent authority of the exporting country; have veterinary controls equivalent to those applicable in the EU, particularly in terms of legislation, hygiene conditions, animal health status, zoonosis controls and other food law; and submit a residues monitoring plan that demonstrates that controls regarding prohibited substances and veterinary medicines generally are equivalent to those in the member states of the EU. In some countries, so called split production systems exist whereby animals reared for export and for slaughter for export to the EU come from herds that have not been given substances that have been banned in the EU.

The FVO carries out inspections to ensure that only establishments that meet hygiene and health standards equivalent to those operating within the EU are approved. Exporting establishments must have standards equivalent to the requirements for EU export establishments; effective control systems and supervision by the competent authorities; and traceability labelling in accordance with systems approved by the FVO.

Following the confirmation of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in cattle and pigs on a farm in the Eldorado district of Mato Grosso do Sui in the southern part of Brazil on 8 October 2005, the EU Commission presented a proposal on Wednesday 12 October to suspend imports of deboned and matured beef from the regions of Mato Grosso do Sui, Parana, and also São Paulo. The Commission extended the scope of this proposed measure to include the region of São Paulo on the basis of concerns in relation to the possible movement of animals from the area where the outbreak has been reported. The proposal was adopted that day at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, SCoFCAH, at which my Department is represented. Accordingly, beef produced in the affected regions from cattle slaughtered since 29 September 2005 may not now be traded. The measures have immediate effect throughout the EU and are being applied to direct imports of beef by my Department's approved border inspection posts. The implementation of this decision will have a very significant impact on exports of beef from Brazil to the EU.

It should be noted that in respect of trade in agricultural products, the EU generally applies the so-called regionalisation principle, which allows trade to continue from non-affected regions in an approved country. In practice, this means that where there is a disease outbreak, restrictions on trade are applied to products from the affected region or regions while trade can continue from other unaffected parts of the country or regions. It will be recalled that this principle was applied to trade in animal products in this country during the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001.

Consignments from third countries must first be landed at a border inspection post that has been approved by the Food and Veterinary Office of the EU and must undergo documentary, identity and physical checks. These checks are carried out at frequencies laid down in EU law. In Ireland, border inspection posts approved for the processing of imports of animal products are located at Dublin Port and Shannon Airport. Imported meat must be accompanied by the appropriate commercial documentation showing country and approval number of the establishment of production and a health certificate conforming to the models set down in EU legislation. The meat must also be clearly labelled that it is of non-EU origin.

I am satisfied the action taken by the EU is the appropriate response to the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Brazil. I will be keeping the position under close review in conjunction with the EU Commission and other member states.