Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed today launched the Animal Health Surveillance website at Agriculture House in Dublin.

This follows recommendations that a dedicated animal health surveillance website be developed to better inform the industry of animal health related issues.

If you don’t share the data people might question you have something to hide

The purpose of the website will be to provide timely and accurate information to relevant stakeholders on animal health issues based on specific populations.

Health surveillance and disease prevention has been identified as a key factor in performance for farm businesses.

The website aims to be used as a shop window to promote the high animal welfare standards and the health status Irish farms maintain, according to the Department.

This will benefit trade relationships by enforcing the value of Irish produce. The website will cover issues such as incursions of an exotic disease, the re-emergence of a previously eradicated disease and spikes in endemic diseases such as mastitis or pneumonia.

Importance of transparency

Throughout the press conference the importance of transparency and openness were emphasised. Minister Creed said: “If you don’t share the data, people might question you have something to hide.”

He continued and said that thanks to the extremely high standards of animal health in the country it was clear Ireland had nothing to hide.

Michael Blake, chief veterinarian officer with the Department of Agriculture, said that the website would provide a one-stop shop for farmers, practitioners and trade partners alike when it comes to animal health in Ireland.

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