The Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture, Michelle O’Neill and her counterpart in the Republic, Simon Coveney, have jointly announced the end to brucellosis pre-movement testing across Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture, Michelle O’Neill and her counterpart in the Republic, Simon Coveney, have jointly announced the end to brucellosis pre-movement testing across Ireland.
From next Monday 28/09/2015, there will be no need for farmers to have tests, following Officially Brucellosis Free status for both parts of Ireland.
Both Ministers said that, following the effective eradication of the disease, it was now appropriate to end internal pre-movement testing for brucellosis in both the north and south.
Minister O’Neill stated: “Once formal publication of the Commission’s decision is made in the Official Journal of the EU, I will be able to announce additional steps I can take to further dismantle the brucellosis testing programme in the north, in line with European legislation. Indeed this work is already underway, and in recent months I increased the testing interval for beef herds to two years.”
At the peak of our testing programme, pre-movement testing was estimated to cost the farmers in the north at least £2million per year, so this will generate a substantial saving for our farming industry.”
UFU Welcomes End of Pre Move Brucellosis Tests
Brucellosis pre-movement testing is to end from next week, it has been announced.
The Ulster Farmers’ Union welcomed DARD’s announcement, arising from Northern Ireland’s attainment of Officially Brucellosis Free(OBF) status from the beginning of the month.
UFU deputy president, Ivor Ferguson said: “This is the start of a new landscape for Northern Ireland’s farmers who for over 40 years have complied with strict brucellosis controls.”
It is estimated that the current brucellosis eradication programme costs the taxpayer around £8 million per year with a further cost in excess of £7 million per year to farmers in compliance costs.
(Source – Impartial Reporter – Brian Donaldson – 23/09/2015)
Pre – Movement Testing Of Animals For Brucellosis Ends
Pre-movement brucellosis testing on both sides of the border will end today (Monday, 28/09/2015).
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney and his Northern Ireland counterpart Michelle O’Neil jointly announced the move at the Ploughing Championships.
The decision to remove the legislative requirement for pre-movement testing was taken following the effective eradication of brucellosis on the island.
There has not been an outbreak in the national herd since 2006 and none in Northern Ireland since 2012.
Mr Coveney said the cessation of compulsory pre-movement testing means routine on-farm brucellosis testing will no longer be required in the State.
This, he said, is a major landmark in the history of disease eradication in Ireland and will result in significant savings for livestock farmers in testing costs, estimated at €6m per annum.
Mr Coveney said the disease will, however, continue to be compulsorily notifiable and the Department of Agriculture will continue with appropriate monitoring measures.
“I warmly welcome the fact that we can now bring to an end the legislative requirement for routine on-farm testing for brucellosis,” said Mr Coveney.
“This is a major boost for Irish farmers and is the product of efforts put in jointly by my department, the veterinary profession and by the farming community over many years in addressing this highly-contagious and costly disease.”
Mr Coveney said he was delighted that the North, having been free from brucellosis for more than three years, has been granted brucellosis-free status and is moving to scale down testing for the disease.
“This is significant in the context of north/south co-operation on animal health issues and was a major factor in his decision to discontinue pre-movement testing here,” said Mr Coveney
He urged farmers to continue to be vigilant in sourcing cattle from reputable outlets.
He said famers should ensure they have bio-security arrangements for animals introduced into their herds.
Ms O’Neill added that it was pleasing that both regions can move in tandem to remove pre-movement testing.
(Source – Irish Examiner – Ray Ryan – 28/09/2015)