Written answers

Wednesday, 2 March 2005

Department of Agriculture and Food

Animal Diseases

9:00 pm

Photo of Ciarán CuffeCiarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will report on the quarantine and other measures to prevent the introduction of animal and plant diseases into Ireland. [6978/05]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to EU trade under the single market trade in animals and animal products is permitted on the basis that harmonised controls apply. These controls are set down in Council Directives 90/425/EEC, 89/662/EEC and 91/628/EC. Animal products being imported into Ireland must come from an EU-approved premises and bear an EU health mark. A health certificate must accompany all animals imported. The contents of the health certificate were harmonised under Commission Regulation 599/2004 and contain details of the requirements the animal must fulfil prior to travel and the inspections carried out to ensure that these requirements are fulfilled. These conditions are set down to protect animal health and public health. My Department also requires that advance notification of any import be given.

With regard to imports from outside the EU, strict conditions are also in force to prevent the introduction of disease. These include a requirement that the exporting country has been approved by the EU as having veterinary controls at least equivalent to those in place in the EU. The animal or animal product must originate from an area where there are no restrictions imposed under EU safeguard measures, must come from establishments which are under the supervision and control of the competent authorities and must be correctly identified and be accompanied by the specific health certificate conforming to the models laid down in EU legislation. Imports into the EU must be presented for veterinary inspection at an EU approved border inspection post following the submission of advance notification.

Compulsory six-month quarantine applies to all pet dogs and cats brought into Ireland from any country not deemed low risk for rabies under the harmonized EU system on the movement of pets. Pet dogs and cats from low-risk countries may be brought directly into Ireland provided that conditions on identification, vaccination and blood testing are met.

In relation to plant health, Council Directive 2000/29/EC sets out the restrictions and protective measures which aim to protect plant health within the European Community. This directive is transposed into Irish law under SI 894 of 2004, European Communities (Control of Organisms harmful to Plants and Plant Products) Regulations 2004.

My Department enforces these regulations which provide for controls on imports, exports and movement of plants and plant products in the country. If plants or plant products are found not to comply with the regulations then appropriate measures are taken including appropriate treatment or destruction. These measures prevent the introduction or spread of plant diseases and pests and ensure the high plant health status of the country.

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