Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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390. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of revenue that would be forgone in each category (details supplied) in the livestock sector if the fee amount for each was reduced by percentages, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19952/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Last year my Department reduced the veterinary inspection fee payable on live exports of calves under three months of age to €1.20 per animal, from €4.80. This gave an important boost to the trade in young calves, and brought greater equity in the fees payable for calves, weanlings and adult cattle.

Exports of calves rose by 20%, to just over 100, 000, in 2017 compared to 2016. The inspection fee for bovines over three months remains unchanged at €4.80.

The cost of reducing the veterinary inspection fee payable on live exports of calves under three months of age can be illustrated as follows:

Veterinary inspection fees for a load of say 100 calves under three months of age come to €120. If reduced by 20%, the inspection fee would come to €96. If reduced by 40%, the inspection fee would come to €72. If reduced by 60%, the inspection fee would come to €48. If reduced by 80%, the inspection fee would come to €40.

Similarly, the cost of reducing the veterinary inspection fee payable on bovines over three months of age can be illustrated as follows:

If the inspection fee of €4.80 was reduced by 20%, the inspection fee for a load of 100 cattle would come to €384. If reduced by 40% the inspection fee would come to €288. If reduced by 60%, the inspection fee would come to €192. If reduced by 80%, the inspection fee would come to €96.

Animal health and welfare are important contributory factors to the quality and safety of food, and to the prevention of the spread of animal diseases. The veterinary inspection of live animals for export contributes to maintaining Ireland's reputation as an exporter of livestock of high health status, which is vital to my Department's ongoing efforts to source additional markets abroad. EU Member States are obliged under the EU Official Controls Regulation (882/2004) to carry out official controls to verify compliance with animal health and welfare rules.