Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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90. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why dairy farmers, whose herds locked up due to inconclusive tests for tuberculosis in cattle, are not compensated for the loss of income from having to dispose of their milk for the first four months and if he will re-examine this matter. [44374/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Dairy farmers in whose herd some animals have had an inconclusive reaction to the TB test are not prohibited from selling milk for human consumption. The position is that milk from TB infected or inconclusive animals cannot be used for human consumption or the manufacture of milk-based products for human consumption. However milk from healthy animals in TB restricted herds may be used for human consumption provided it is first heat-treated at an establishment authorised by my Department. In addition, milk from an inconclusive animal may be supplied provided the animal subsequently tests negative for TB, at a minimum of 42 days from the date of the original test. These procedures are designed to ensure the safety of the milk supply to the consumer.