Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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476. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to resist EU proposals to impose a 30 day pre-movement TB test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8229/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In March 2016 the European Parliament adopted the new Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU)2016/429). This involved the amalgamation of a multiplicity of legal texts into a single law with the aim of supporting the EU livestock sector in terms of competitiveness, food safety and ease of trade. The Animal Health Law is a key output of the EU animal health strategy ‘Prevention is Better Than The Cure’.

Under the Animal Health Law, several Delegated Acts have been drafted by the Commission, and a consultation process has been undertaken with Member States. One of the Delegated Acts sets out the legislative framework for disease eradication programmes throughout the European Union including specifically that for bovine TB.

The Delegated Act dealing with TB ( to become operational in April 2021) has not been finalised, and is still undergoing scrutiny at Commission level. Ireland is continuing to engage with the Commission and is continuing to make representations to the relevant Commission officials in DG santé. It is anticipated that a public consultation process on the Act will be undertaken circa April 2019.