Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 549: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in the clearing of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has suspected bovine tuberculosis in their herd; the reason it took 15 days for the sample to go to the laboratory for a test; when the restriction will be lifted following the test results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3497/12]

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

An animal owned by the person concerned was slaughtered on 1 November 2011. The DVO was informed by email that a lesion suspected of being caused by TB was discovered and, as a result, his herd was restricted on 2 of November 2011 in accordance with the requirements of the EU trading Directive 64/432/EEC. A sample of the lesion was taken on 1 November 2011 but, due to a misunderstanding, the courier service did not call on the normal collection date (7 November 2011) to collect the samples for delivery to the laboratory. The samples were dispatched on the next normal collection date which was 14 November 2011. A negative result was received in the DVO on 13 January 2012 and the herd was de-restricted on that day.

The laboratory procedure normally takes 7-8 weeks to determine a negative result, although positive results may be available within a shorter timeframe. I regret the delay in collecting the sample and the resulting very short delay in de-restricting the herd.