Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey, who asked Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed about plans to increase live exports of Irish cattle to world markets this week, said the Department is looking at the possibility of bilateral health certificates for the export of cattle to Kazakhstan and has identified Israel as a live export market of potential interest to exporters.

“Agreement on health certificates has been reached with all other live export markets identified as being of potential interest to Ireland,” he said.

We have rigorous controls and procedures in place to ensure compliance with this legislation

Carey added that there were currently nine non-EU markets in Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Montenegro, Morocco, Serbia, Tunisia, and most recently Turkey, open to live cattle from Ireland. Demand from North Africa and the Middle East for live cattle will depend on the political environment there as well as Ireland’s cost competitiveness, he said.

“It is important that we ensure the export trade is carried out to the highest animal health and welfare standards. We have a comprehensive legislative framework in place governing vessels that export animals and we have rigorous controls and procedures in place to ensure compliance with this legislation,” he added.

“While the overall trend is good, the longer term situation needs careful attention. The projected increase in Irish cattle numbers for 2017 is 100,000. However, the increase in exports at this stage is being driven by dairy-type calves,” he said.

6% increase

“In the first two months of this year, just over 20,000 head, including 12,000 calves, were exported, representing an increase of almost 6% over the same period last year. The number of calves exported in January and February increased by 3,000 over last year.”

Deputy Carey added that the live calf export trade with the EU has proved difficult in recent years for a number of reasons, including changes in animal health rules in Belgium and changes in the interpretation of the EU rules on animal transport in the Netherlands.

“However, the Department of Agriculture has been working closely with the Dutch authorities on the transport issue and nearly 7,000 calves were exported to the Netherlands last month, double the number for February 2016.

“We also exported almost 20,000 head to Turkey and the indications are that there will be further shipments this year. We also reached agreement with Egypt on a health certificate for slaughter cattle last year and talks are continuing with the Egyptian authorities about an agreement on a health certificate for fattening cattle.”

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