Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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784. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite the availability of the schmallenberg new virus vaccine Bovilis SBV to enable farmers to counteract the substantial sheep losses that have occured in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27277/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Having recently received the requisite application from the sponsoring company concerned, my Department issued an exceptional, interim, authorisation for a Schmallenberg virus vaccine for cattle and sheep on 7 June 2013. An application for a full marketing authorisation for the product concerned, which, if approved, would replace the interim authorisation, is currently under examination in the framework of the EU Mutual Recognition regime.

My Department has been advised that the Schmallenberg vaccine will be available for supply to registered veterinary practitioners and pharmacists in the week commencing 17 June 2013 and should, therefore, be available for purchase, on prescription, shortly thereafter.