Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 525: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in view of the minuscule incidence of scrapie within sheep for slaughter, if he intends to seek a review of the current EU conditions on testing; if he will seek a review of the fee regime at meat factories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15309/11]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 528: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 271 of 31 May 2011, the amount contributed to the cost of scrapie testing by factories since the testing began; the plans he has to address the issue of factory contributions to the cost of scrapie testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15526/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 and 528 together.

Regulation (EC) 999/2001 as amended by regulation (EC) 727/2007 requires the annual testing of both sheep presented for human consumption and fallen sheep over 18 months of age.

In 2007 the Commission adopted a level of testing for future years at a minimum annual sample of 10,000 sheep slaughtered for human consumption and 10,000 fallen sheep aged over 18 months.

This testing regime was directed at Countries where the population of ewes and ewe lambs put to the ram exceeds 750,000. This change substantially reduced the testing requirement from previous years when 41,677 and 26,970 healthy sheep were tested respectively in 2006 and 2007.

The testing requirements as set down by the EU are kept under review.

The scrapie surveillance programme is financed by my Department. In turn this expenditure is recouped almost in its entirety from the EU. With regard to the fee imposed at meat factories my Department does not levy any charges against processors in respect of scrapie testing and any such charges that may be levied by the processors for such testing is a commercial matter between the processor and the farmer.