Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 117: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the advice he will provide for farmers who purchase cattle stock from other EU countries, specifically in regard to the health status of animals and securing sales outlets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31606/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under Single Market rules, all animals moving in intra community trade must be certified as complying with EU animal health requirements. In the case of bovines, this means that they must be certified as free from TB/Brucellosis and EBL in accordance with Community legislation as appropriate. In addition, all ruminants imported to Ireland from beyond the UK must be certified as compliant with Community Bluetongue provisions. As an additional precaution, my Department continues to test all ruminants imported for BT, which exceeds the provisions of Community BT legislation.

As a further precaution, all cattle (including calves entering the State from areas other than Northern Ireland) are subjected to a precautionary treatment against Warble Fly by my Department within days of import.

6,680 cattle were imported into Ireland in the period from July 1st 2011 to date. 2,968 of these were animals imported from Northern Ireland for direct slaughter. There is no legal impediment to the slaughter of imported animals in factories here but this is a commercial decision for the factory concerned. Under beef labelling rules, the member state(s) of birth, rearing and slaughter must be declared.