The cross-border movement of cattle and sheep not headed straight for slaughter will resume from this Friday after a workaround was brokered to end the disruption currently hitting the live trade.

Veterinary authorities north and south, along with the European Commission, agreed a derogation from certain veterinary certification requirements that had prevented livestock such as calves, stores and pedigree cattle from heading to Northern Ireland from the south.

These movements had been stalled with the discovery of a bluetongue serotype-3 (BTV-3) outbreak in Wexford in January.

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The derogation will allow cattle and sheep to move with no restrictions from member states where BTV-3 is the only serotype of the virus present, as is the case in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The movement of susceptible livestock from countries where other serotypes are present has been relaxed, but not to the same degree.

The terms of derogation allow for susceptible livestock from these areas to be exported to Ireland, but only where the animal has been vaccinated and received a negative pre-movement PCR test or where the animal tests positive for antibodies but negative for the virus in PCR pre-movement testing.

The Department of Agriculture has said that these requirements “will go some way to mitigate the risk of introduction of other serotypes on to the island”, but it warned farmers to remain aware of the disease situation on the continent and to make informed purchasing decisions before importing livestock.

'Significant' impact

The derogation was announced by Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and his counterpart in Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir.

“Since the first case of bluetongue was identified in Ireland, there has been significant interruption to this cross-border trade,” Minister Heydon said.

“This trade is essential to the all-island agri-food economy. I am happy to announce Minister Muir and myself are applying derogations that will allow movements from Northern Ireland to Ireland and vice versa to recommence from Friday.

“Protecting animal health remains our top priority. At the same time, it is essential that we minimise unnecessary disruption to farmers and the agri-food sector.”

Minister Heydon said that the derogation followed consultation with farming organisations.

Animal health paramount

Minister Muir said that the derogation will see the lifting of Co Down’s temporary control zone.

“Protecting animal health remains paramount, but I recognise the significant disruption that trade restrictions have caused for farmers and the wider agri-food sector across both jurisdictions,” Minister Muir commented.

“This balanced and proportionate approach, developed in close collaboration with farming organisations and wider industry, will allow trade to resume while managing disease risk.

“From Friday, animals will once again be able to move freely between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

“I would continue to urge farmers to source responsibly and, in consultation with their private veterinary practitioner, to consider vaccination against BTV-3 as we continue to monitor the situation closely.”