Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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212. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number, name and location of all salmon farms using mechanical treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27388/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The control protocols for the management of sea lice are operated by the Marine Institute on behalf of the State. These protocols are more advanced than those operated in other jurisdictions for the following reasons:

- the inspection regime is totally independent of the industry

- data obtained as a result of inspection is published and made widely available

- treatment trigger levels are set at a low level

The use of mechanical treatments for sea lice control is an operational issue for salmon farm operators. It is not a regulatory requirement for the Marine Institute to approve or record the use of mechanical treatments for sea lice and, therefore, the information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The sea lice monitoring and control programme in Ireland is widely acknowledged as representing best practice.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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213. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the treatments pertaining to the 17 orders to treat from the Marine Institute to salmon farmers since November 2017 to control sea lice infestations were chemical treatments; if so, the type and amount of chemicals used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27389/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The control protocols for the management of sea lice are operated by the Marine Institute on behalf of the State. These protocols are more advanced than those operated in other jurisdictions for the following reasons:

- the inspection regime is totally independent of the industry;

- data obtained as a result of inspection is published and made widely available and

- treatment trigger levels are set at a low level.

As set out in the document “A Strategy for Improved Pest Control on Irish Salmon farms,” a Notice to Treat is issued to a salmon farm if the sea lice levels exceed the specified set treatment trigger levels.

The method of treatment is a matter for the salmon farm and its privately contracted veterinary/fish health professionals and is not specified by the Marine Institute. On completion of the treatment, the Marine Institute conducts a follow-up inspection to determine sea lice levels on the farm.

The sea lice monitoring and control programme in Ireland is widely acknowledged as representing best practice.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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214. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if salmon farms that have used more than the allowed number of chemical treatments under organic certification lose their organic certification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27390/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The organic status of operators in Ireland is certified by rigorous on-going assessment undertaken on behalf of my Department by designated Organic Control Bodies. My Department is the Competent Authority under EU regulations but has delegated the certification function to these bodies, in accordance with the relevant EU regulations and in common with the practice in many other countries across the EU. The Organic Control Bodies in question act under formal service agreements with my Department and are themselves subject to audit by my Department, by INAB (the Irish National Accreditation Board) and by the various EU audit authorities.

Article 25 of Commission Regulation 710/2009, which lays down detailed rules in relation to organic aquaculture animal and seaweed production, provides for the use and control of allopathic treatments which are deemed permissible.

In accordance with Article 92(d) of Commission Regulation 889/2008 as amended, my Department has issued a Catalogue of Infringements to Organic Control Bodies operating in Ireland. This Catalogue lists infringements and irregularities affecting the organic status of products and corresponding measures to be applied by control bodies in case of infringements or irregularities by operators under their control who are involved in organic production.

The Catalogue classifies veterinary treatments in respect of aquaculture which are non-compliant, as a critical non-compliance. The appropriate sanction in respect of a critical non-compliance as laid down in the Catalogue of Infringements requires immediate decertification of the batch/product/lot as appropriate.