Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 529: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will extend the 30 day brucellosis test to either 60 or 90 days in view of the fact that most farmers have less than 20 days to move their animals by the time they get their results back from the test and that there is little or no risk from the disease at the present time; his views on whether this issue is causing hardship for farmers and especially for those bringing animals to shows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31918/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The 30-day pre-movement test was introduced in 1998 to curtail the spread of Brucellosis following an upsurge in the disease. The veterinary advice at the time, which continues to apply, was that the movement/buying-in of cattle was deemed to be a major contributory factor in the spread of the disease and the 30 day test has contributed significantly to the effort in reducing the incidence of the disease, particularly in that it reduces the movement of brucellosis susceptible animals. A range of other measures was also introduced at the time. These included the early removal of reactors, the rapid depopulation of herds, the taking of blood samples from cows at slaughter plants, the Milk Ring Test (MRT) (subsequently replaced by the Milk ELISA Test), and the lime treatment of slurry on infected farms and on all Brucellosis depopulated farms.

The impact of these measures has been very positive and very substantial progress has been made since 1998 in reducing disease levels. Any changes to the existing control measures can be taken only on the basis of risk assessment and for the moment all elements of the programme must be retained in their present form. It must be emphasised also that any new outbreaks of the disease could jeopardise the attainment of officially-free status.