Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to review the implementation of the changes introduced last year to the TB eradication programme; in view of the restrictions being placed on adjoining landowners, if he will review his policy on the threshold for the blood testing for TB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25608/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As I have explained in reply to recent Parliamentary Questions, the changes to the TB eradication programme which were introduced by my Department earlier this year are designed to improve the effectiveness of the programme by tightening up on overdue testing and preventing the spread of disease from infected herds to clear herds. Thus, greater stress is being laid on ensuring all herds test on time and on reducing movement opportunities for potentially infected cattle so as to provide increased protection for clear herds and export markets.

I want to emphasise that these changes, which were made following a number of consultation meetings with the farming organisations, are based on research which demonstrates that there are increased risks attached to the movement of certain animals. With regard to neighbouring or contiguous herds to a high risk breakdown, the only change from previous arrangements is that these herds are now being trade restricted, except to slaughter, pending a TB test. Previously, such herds were permitted to sell cattle on the open market prior to carrying out the test and research had shown that this posed a risk to clear herds. The objective of the restriction on neighbouring herds is to protect clear herds from buying in infected animals from these herds and thereby avoid the clear herd being restricted for 4 months and the associated additional testing.

Following representations made to my Department, I have clarified a number of issues in relation to the new disease control arrangements and introduced modifications to a number of others. For example, I have made it clear that the trade restriction on contiguous herds only applies to those herds which are identified, following an epidemiological investigation by my Department, as being relevant to the breakdown herd and which have not been tested in the previous 4 months. Herd owners will be contacted by my Department prior to restriction and only those herds which, on a case by case consideration, are identified as genuinely relevant to the breakdown will be restricted. Those farmers whose herds are restricted can minimise any impact by arranging to have their herds tested as soon as possible. Any herd which tests clear will be immediately de-restricted.

In addition, my Department has clarified that trade restricted herds will not be deemed ineligible for the Russian trade. Furthermore, I have amended the arrangements relating to the new overdue testing rules such that herdowners who, based on genuine reasons, negotiate a delay of up to one month with the DVO prior to the overdue date will not have any penalties applied. I am also removing the restriction on the movement of animals into trade restricted herds during this one month period.

While I am pleased to have been in a position to clarify and bring certain flexibility to most of the areas raised with me, the question of the 4 and 6 month rule is in a different category where the type of change sought gives rise to a disease related risk.

With regard to blood testing for TB, such testing is confined to already identified diseased herds. There has been no change to this policy and none is contemplated.

There has been a significant reduction in both the herd and animal incidence of TB over recent years. Herd TB incidence was 7.53% in 2000 compared to 4.18% in 2011. During the same period, reactor numbers have fallen from 40,000 to 18,500, the lowest recorded since the commencement of the programme in the 1950's. While I am very pleased with this improvement, my Department subjects the TB eradication programme to on-going review with a view to ensuring that there is a robust testing regime in place. The prevention of the spread of disease from infected herds to clear herds is an important factor both in achieving the goal of eradication and in continuing to secure funding from the EU. My Department will continue to review and make changes to various elements of the programme as deemed necessary in light of experience.