Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will implement with immediate effect the changes to the age at which cattle must be tested for BSE at slaughter to ease the financial burden on farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37458/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The requirements in relation to BSE testing of cattle are provided for in Regulation (EC) No.999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council which lays down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. The current prescribed age for testing cattle that are being slaughtered for human consumption is 30 months and I do not have the discretion to raise that age.

However, the Regulation contains a provision that allows for the possibility that the Commission may provide for a higher age and I have been pressing the Commissioner to have the necessary actions taken and finalised to provide for this in our case. The Deputy will be aware that I have warmly welcomed the recent agreement of the Commissioner 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 is warranted in view of the improved BSE situation and the control measures that remain in place will deliver significant savings to farmers who currently pay for testing in the case of slaughter animals over 30 months. This has been a particular priority of mine since my appointment and I am confident that the new testing regime will be in place from January 2009.