Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1566: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of cases of BSE outbreaks to date in 2008; the consequences of extending the testing of bovines from 30 to 42 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29946/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The number of confirmed cases of BSE to date in 2008 is 14. The requirement that all cattle over 30 months of age slaughtered for human consumption and all casualty and fallen animals over 24 months, as provided for in the TSE regulation (Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001), applies throughout the Community and Member States do not have discretion to raise the age limits for testing for BSE.

However, under the recently amended TSE regulation, there is provision for a possible revision of Member States' monitoring programmes (including changes to the age at which healthy slaughtered animals for human consumption must be tested for BSE) following evaluation of applications by Member States in response to their improved BSE situation.

I have warmly welcomed the very recent agreement of the EU Commissioner for Public Health to a proposed increase in the minimum age for BSE testing of both animals slaughtered for human consumption as well as emergency slaughtered and fallen animals to 48 months. This decision will deliver very significant savings to farmers who currently pay to have healthy slaughtered animals over 30 months tested for BSE.

This has been a particular priority of mine since my appointment and I have consistently pressed for a significant increase in the age limit. I am very pleased at this recent development and I am confident that Ireland's application to apply testing at the higher age will be approved and that the new testing regime will be in place from early 2009.