Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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Question 577: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the requirement of the State to ensure that each bovine animal in the State is properly accounted for and identified by reference to the passport-cattle identity card for that animal; the procedures adopted by the State to ensure each bovine animal within the State on each farm holding is readily identifiable by reference to the passport-cattle identity card for that animal; the penalty on the State for failure to ensure all bovines within the State are readily identifiable by reference to their unique passport; the number of bovine animals within the State for which there is no traceability for such animals by reference to the passport-cattle identity system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15698/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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All bovines in the state must be identified in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1760 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 and S.I. No. 77 of 2009 [European Communities (Identification of Bovines Regulations 2009]. This legislation sets out the four pillars of bovine identification that include eartags, passports, on-farm registers and computerised databases containing information on animal identity and location.

The legislation requires that all bovines must be tagged within 20 days of birth with a specific individual tag that identifies the holding, with the birth recorded on the herd register of the keeper and details of date of birth, breed, sex and dam registered on the AIM database within 7 days of tagging. The passport for the animal is issued by post to the keeper following receipt of a valid application for registration of the animal by the keeper.

All tag numbers are validated against the AIM database before a movement takes place. If an animal is moved from its holding, it must be accompanied by a valid passport. An exception to this requirement applies when an animal or herd has been placed under movement control by the Department whereby the requirement for a passport is replaced by a requirement to be accompanied by a permit issued by the local District Veterinary Office. If an animal loses a tag, a replacement tag must be ordered immediately. If a passport is lost then the keeper must order a replacement passport from the District Veterinary Office.

Inspections are carried out also under cross compliance for the Single Farm Payment to ensure that animals are identified correctly and that all passports are in order. Penalties may be applied to Single Farm Payments where non-compliance with identification requirements is found. Identification of animals is checked also at the annual TB herd test and any identification issues are addressed at this time, including any discrepancies between the herd profile generated from the AIM database and animals present on the holding. In certain cases keepers may be required to undertake DNA testing to establish the identity of an animal. If the identification of an animal cannot be established the animal may be destroyed or restricted to the holding for life and may not enter the food chain. Keepers may be prosecuted under SI 77 of 2009 for failing to identify an animal. Bovine animals that don't comply with the legislation referred cannot be traded legally.

Audits conducted by or on behalf of the EU may sanction a Member State if checks are not conducted as specified under EU legislation.