Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 535: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes and conditions that have been introduced in relation to testing of cattle for TB with particular reference to the effects this has on neighbouring farmsteads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29000/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There has been a significant improvement in the Bovine TB situation over the past decade and eradication now appears to be a genuinely practicable proposition over the coming years. The number of reactors has declined from 40,000 to 18,500 during the period 2000 to 2011. This is the lowest recorded since the commencement of the eradication programme in the 1950's and improves on the record low achieved in 2010.

In view of the improvement in the overall TB situation and with a view to progressing towards eradication, my Department implemented a number of enhancements to current TB controls earlier this year. I want to emphasise that the changes are, firstly, based on research which demonstrates that there are increased risks attached to the movement of certain animals and, secondly, that they are designed to protect clear herds from buying in high risk animals. These changes were explained to all of the farm organisations on a number of occasions prior to their introduction. The position on each of the changes is as follows.

Follow-up on overdue testing

Under the EU Trade Directive 64/432, all herds are required to be tested for bovine TB every 12 months (Annual Round test). However a significant percentage of annual round tests take place outside of the 12 months period. In addition, many of the other tests, such as reactor re-tests and special check tests, also take place after the due date. Under the new policy, where a TB test is deemed to be overdue the herd concerned will, within a short period of time, be automatically restricted until such time as the test is completed and clear. I should explain that herdowners are given plenty of advance warning of the due date for testing. In addition, herdowners who, having genuine reasons, negotiate a delay (up to one month) with the DVO prior to the overdue date will not have any penalties applied. Furthermore, herdowners who postpone their tests with the permission of the DVO will be permitted to buy in animals for a limited period of up to one month pending completion of the test.

Contiguous herds

Herds which are contiguous to the farm fragment linked to a high risk breakdown are put on a contiguous test programme. However, there is normally an interval of several weeks following a herd breakdown before a contiguous herd is identified and tested. Previously during this interval, farmers were free to trade their animals and therefore there was a risk of spreading TB from the sale of such animals to clear herds. Statistics available to my Department show that animals in herds which are contiguous to high risk breakdowns are 3 times more likely to have TB infected animals than "normal" herds, indicating that the risk of TB spreading from herds which are contiguous to high risk breakdowns is very significant.

As a result, my Department has amended the controls on the movement of cattle from contiguous herds such that herds which have not had a full herd test within the previous 4 months will be prevented from selling cattle on the open market pending a full clear herd test. However, such herds are permitted to move cattle direct to slaughter and to buy-in cattle for up to one month pending completion of the test is completed. I should point out that the new controls only apply to herds which are identified as relevant to a high risk breakdown following an epidemiological investigation.

I want to emphasise that the only change to the contiguous testing arrangements is that these herds will be temporarily trade restricted pending a test and that they will be immediately de-restricted once they have passed a TB herd test. I believe that the restriction on contiguous herds pending a test should have a very limited effect on trade in cattle. In effect, it is only those herds in which TB is disclosed that will be restricted for any significant period of time.

Inconclusive reactors

Under EU Trade Directive 64/432/EEC, an animal which has shown an inconclusive reactor result to the TB test can be traded normally if it passes a subsequent TB test. However, recent research carried out by UCD on behalf of the Department found that standard inconclusive reactors which passed the re-test and moved out of the herd, subsequent to passing the test, were 12 times more likely to be TB positive at the subsequent test/slaughter compared to all other animals in the herd. The same increased risk did not apply to the non-inconclusive animals that moved out of the same herds at the same time. On the basis of the findings from this research, my Department has decided that a standard inconclusive reactor will be prevented from moving from the herd of disclosure for the duration of its lifetime, except to slaughter or, in exceptional cases, to a feedlot, from where it must go, within a reasonable timeframe, direct to slaughter.

While I am very pleased with the improvement in the incidence of TB, 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.