Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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635. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the scientific basis for the increase in the frequency of TB testing; if he will outline the analysis that his Department has carried out on the possible competition impacts of such measures; if his Department will cover the cost of this increase in the frequency of testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44521/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to driving down TB rates in the national herd. I am acutely aware of the emotional and financial pain associated with a TB breakdown.

Introduction of the new TB testing requirements are as result of the EU Animal Health Law Regulations 2016\429. These regulations came into effect on 1st April 2021. These new regulations require that where bovine animals are being moved from farm to farm or through marts, they must have been tested for TB within a certain time frame.

The requirements are that:

1. All Bovines that are moving farm to farm or through a mart must be tested in the previous six months,and

2. They must also be moving from a herd that been tested in the last six months.

If they do not fulfil both of these requirements, they must be tested, either within the 30 days prior to movement or within 30 days after movement into the new herd.

These new requirements are aimed at reducing the level of transmissible disease in animals, including bovines. These requirements are directly applicable across all EU member states. As this is not a discretionary matter, my Department did not complete an analysis on competition impacts.

The Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum which comprises of representatives from across the agri-food sector, leading researchers and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has agreed to the introduction of these mandatory requirements on a phased basis. These new measures should play a part in assisting the reduction of bTB in the years ahead.

Where animals that move do not satisfy the two testing-interval requirements, the initial phase of implementation will see the requirement for either pre-or post-movement test activated in respect of cows of all ages and male animals over the age of 36 months. This first phase will come into effect on 1^stFebruary 2023. At present, no date has been set for phase two, which will see the rule applied to all animals. This will only be done in dialogue with farm organisations.

If the animal does not meet the TB testing criteria then the animal is restricted to the herd that received it and it is required to have a post movement test within 30 days, If the animal is alive and has not tested within the 30 days then the herd is restricted and the animal must be tested within another 30 days. If the animal is alive and has not been TB tested within another 30 days then the herd will remain restricted and the herd will be scheduled for a full herd TB test.

The responsibility to ensure that animals are tested in compliance with these requirements ultimately rests with the purchaser of the animals.

The majority of animals being moved currently satisfy these time intervals and so in such cases no additional testing will be required.

Herd owners either selling or buying animals can time their annual herd test to coincide with the sale or purchase of animals. If a herd owner wishes to re-schedule their annual herd test to an earlier date, to facilitate the sale or purchase of animals, they should contact their Regional Veterinary Office. Herd owners may test those animals that have been moved in as part of their annual herd test or as part of a Department-paid test where one is scheduled for completion, e.g., contiguous tests or post de-restriction check tests.

Discussions are currently on-going at the Financial Working Group (a TB Forum working group) about the financing of the programme overall. Ultimately, measures to reduce the incidence of the disease will reduce the cost of the programme to farmers and tax payers.