Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps he is taking to monitor the importation of sea oysters from France and the possibility of diseased stock being brought into the country and contaminating the Irish oyster beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43393/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the Oyster Herpes Virus (OsHV1-uvar).

The prevention and control of the virus is a matter of high priority for my Department. Our current approach to this matter is to take all appropriate steps to minimise the risk of infection while allowing trade in oysters to continue. This approach is supported by the aquaculture industry.

The European Commission has made a regulation in line with the Fish Health Directive specifying measures which must be taken by member states to deal with the oyster herpes virus issue. The principal measures contained in this legislation require a surveillance programme to be established to ensure early detection of the virus in heretofore disease free areas, and the establishment of containment areas in respect of sites where the virus has been detected.

The Marine Institute is the competent authority in Ireland for the implementation of the Fish Health Directive and controls are in place in relation to the importation of oysters from containment areas (in Ireland or abroad) to surveillance (disease free) areas. While not totally prohibited, any such importation is subject to certification by the relevant competent authority in France of the disease free status of the consignment. In addition, the Marine Institute also encourages producers to avoid importing oysters from containment to surveillance areas. Furthermore, in the case of importation of oysters from abroad generally, producers are strongly advised to submit samples of the oysters to the Marine Institute for testing prior to importation.

My Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute, will continue to take all appropriate measures to protect Irish oyster stocks from this virus.