Farmers face additional TB testing under new proposals drawn up in Brussels.

Ireland is not making sufficiently fast progress against the disease, farmer representatives were told by EU animal health experts at a COPA meeting last week.

The move would not be welcomed by farmers as it would increase both costs and workload. Farmers already pay almost €28m for annual herd testing.

IFA animal health chair Pat Farrell said the move was unnecessary.

This move would actually be targeting the low-risk herds

Herds suffering multiple reactors already step up frequency of testing, he said.

“So this move would actually be targeting the low-risk herds. In any case, reactor numbers were continuing to fall in Ireland so progress is being made,” he told European Commission officials last week.

If a six-month herd test is imposed, then the Department of Agriculture will have to meet the cost, he warned.

The EU has also signalled that it may cut its funding for Ireland’s TB eradication programme

The proposal is among a raft of proposals targeting livestock diseases in a number of EU member states.

European Commission officials have a final draft of the necessary legislation prepared and it will be distributed to MEPs shortly.

The plan is that Parliament will vote on the issue next month, with legislation coming into effect from 2020, if passed. The EU has also signalled that it may cut its funding for Ireland’s TB eradication programme.

Irrespective of what happens the EU proposal, Irish farmers are likely to face changes to the TB eradication scheme next year.

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is now considering changes proposed in the interim report prepared for him by the TB Forum.

Pre-movement test

The Department of Agriculture has moved to clarify the position in relation to the proposed changes to the TB rules at EU level.

“There are no proposals from the European Commission for Ireland to carry out six monthly TB testing in all herds,” a Department spokesperson said.

A pre/post movement TB test would be required

“The new animal health law, due to come into effect in 2021, does contain a provision applicable to Ireland that would require a pre/post movement TB test to be carried out within 30 days of movement for all cattle moving to another holding, except where both the herd of origin and the animal itself have been TB tested in the preceding six months,” the spokesperson said.

“So if a herd test was done in January and one wanted to move an animal in September, a pre/post movement TB test would be required for that animal; but there would be no requirement to test the whole herd.”

The draft text of the new law (which will shortly be discussed at the European Parliament) and the responses from farm organisations and stakeholders to the public consultation to it can be seen here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/initiatives/ares-2019-3615405_en.

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