Written answers
Wednesday, 25 May 2005
Department of Agriculture and Food
Poultry Industry
9:00 pm
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has satisfied herself that adequate procedures are in place to protect against the spread of avian flu here especially in view of the recent warning from the Food and Agriculture Organisation that the virus causing bird flu may be impossible to eradicate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17378/05]
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Avian influenza is a serious, highly contagious viral disease of poultry, which can also spread to other animals and occasionally to human beings.
EU legislation to control avian influenza is laid down in Directive 92/40/EEC. In brief, this directive requires that all suspected cases of avian influenza must be investigated and appropriate measures taken in case of confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza, HPAI. To limit the spread, infected poultry must be killed in a humane way and disposed of safely. Feeding stuffs, contaminated equipment and manure must be destroyed or treated to inactivate the virus.
The EU has enacted legislation placing an embargo on imports of poultry and certain poultry products from the affected Asian countries â Commission Decision 2004/122/EC â and also suspended the import of pet birds from South East Asia â Commission Decision 2004/93/EC. Further bans are in place for Canada and the United States.
Under Article 17 of Council Directive 92/40/EEC, each member state must have a contingency plan "specifying the national measures to be implemented in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza". Among other things, the plan must provide for access to facilities, equipment, personnel and all other appropriate materials necessary for the rapid and efficient eradication of the outbreak. Ireland's plan also gives details on movement controls and procedures to be followed in the investigation of a suspect premises. Ireland's contingency plan is currently being updated in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children. In addition, operational and other aspects are being reviewed and various elements are being updated.
The European Commission has recently tabled proposals on updating the current Community measures on avian influenza with a view to improving prevention and control, reducing the health risks, the costs and losses and the negative impact to the whole of society of this disease. These proposals are currently under detailed technical discussion at Council working group in Brussels.
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