Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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687. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he has introduced since December 2020 to protect against the potential of African swine flu outbreaks in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44759/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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African Swine Fever (ASF), a disease of pigs and wild boar continues to pose a threat to the Irish pig sector and the Department implements a range of risk mitigation measures to prevent an incursion of the disease in Ireland. Ireland is free of the disease. It should be noted that the disease does not pose a threat to humans and there is no food safety risk.

The Department is maintaining its risk-based border control activities and continuing its awareness campaign and engagement with all relevant stakeholders to highlight the risk and the importance of high standards of on-farm biosecurity in preventing incursion.

In addition, the Department ensures the availability of laboratory diagnostic capability and maintains its preparedness to deploy an effective response in the event that an outbreak occurred.