Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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250. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has made changes to the operation of livestock bed and breakfast practice; if the option to apply for a certificate of compliance for movement to another holding for feeding purposes has been discontinued and all applications now treated as movement of an animal to another holding; if the passport or ID card is now required to accompany the bovine animal at all times during movement and each transfer recorded as a movement for QA criteria; if he consulted farming organisations in advance of bringing forward these potential meetings; the number of such meetings; and the rationale for such changes to bed and breakfast rules. [28630/18]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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253. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the introduction in January 2019 of new rules regarding the permit for the movement of cattle; and the reason for these rules in view of the fact they do not appear to be related to disease control. [28633/18]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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254. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether it is fair for farmers following the introduction in January 2019 of new rules regarding the permit for the movement of cattle of a scenario (details supplied). [28634/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 250, 253 and 254 together.

The Department engaged in a consultation process with the farm organisations including ICMSA, ICSA and IFA on revision of the procedures for an application for a Certificate of Compliance associated with the movement of animals from farm to farm.  The consultation process focussed on the movement of cattle for feeding purposes, requirement for specification of the destination herd and a reduction in the validity period.

My Department deemed it appropriate to review the application process for a Certificate of Compliance in the light of its endeavours on a consistent basis to ensure the highest standards in bovine traceability through the Animal Identification and Movement database (AIM). The AIM database underpins confidence in food supply, disease control, provides requisite assurances to consumers as to the origin/traceability of cattle and plays a key role in enhancing Ireland’s ability to trade internationally.

The facility to record feedlot movements on the AIM system was historically introduced to assist in the establishment of stocking density for premia payments. The facility to record this movement type is no longer required. Thus with effect from 1 June 2018, the option to apply for a Certificate of Compliance for movement of animals to another holding for feeding purposes was removed.  All applications received on or after that date for movement to a feedlot are treated as an application for the movement of an animal(s) to another holding. 

As has been the position to date, S.I. No 77 of 2009, European Communities (Identification of Bovines) Regulation 2009 requires that a person shall not, except in accordance with a permit, transfer ownership or responsibility for a bovine to another person unless the passport relating to that bovine is completed and transferred to the person concerned with the animals.  In that regard the passport must accompany the bovine animals at all times during movement.     

Keepers can continue to apply online for a Certificate of Compliance to move an animal to another holding using agfood.ie online services or an approved farm software package.  Alternatively, keepers can complete a form NBAS 31A (that is available on the Department’s website or from a Regional Veterinary Office) and submit it to the Cattle Movement Notification Agency in Clonakilty as is currently the case. 

The quality bonus payment scheme is a meat industry lead initiative and is not a Department scheme. For the purpose of the meat industry quality bonus payment scheme the count of farm residencies remains unchanged. That count is based on the number of residencies, including the herd of origin and each change in farm residency as a result of a farm to farm movement.  Movements to a holding for feeding purposes have historically been counted as a farm residency movement and therefore the removal of the feedlot movement facility on AIM will not impact on this.