Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

191. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the term mart as defined in the Animal Health and Welfare (Livestock Marts) Regulations 2018 could also apply to an online market place; the requirements that such a venture would have to comply with in an effort to be able to operate as such; and his views on the matter. [40639/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under our current understanding of legislation, livestock marts need a suitable physical location and infrastructure to conduct the business of a livestock mart. Livestock marts are licenced and regulated under the Animal Health and Welfare (Livestock Marts) Regulations 2018 (SI 128 of 2018). My Department has, since April, and with the cooperation of the marts representative organisations, put in place measures to allow marts to continue to operate with due regard to public health and safety in relation to COVID-19.

While livestock marts do facilitate online bidding and sales, the animals being auctioned are physically present in the mart premises, and the actual movements of the animals- from the farm of origin, to the mart and onwards to their destination, must all be fully recorded on the Department's Animals Identification and Movement (AIM) system. For example, during level 5 restrictions, the sales rings of marts were closed. However, farmers or their representatives were permitted to deliver livestock to the mart by appointment and potential buyers were permitted to view or collect livestock by appointment.

Whether the sale is online or in person, marts must display information as to whether a bovine presented for sale has been tested for tuberculosis, if the bovine is offered for sale by or on behalf of a dealer as defined in Council Directive 64/432/EEC and a statement as to eligibility of the bovine animal for live export to an EU member state. Marts facilitating online bidding are subject to the same record keeping and animal identification requirements as if they were facilitating sales via buyers physically present at the sales ring.

In addition, it should be noted that auctioneers conducting sales in marts must be registered and licenced by the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA).