Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by David Drew (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 February 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 February 2006. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour) on Monday, 13 February 2006 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Cattle (Pre-movement Testing)

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with whom consultations were carried out prior to the decision to introduce pre-movement testing of cattle; how results are being monitored; by whom; and what research is planned to assess the impact of the change.
Answer

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) consulted between July and October 2002 with a wide range of stakeholders about the proposal for brucellosis pre-movement testing, as part of its consultation about the 2002 Brucellosis Policy Review recommendations. The list of consultees who were specifically asked for views has been placed in the Library of the House. The decision to introduce compulsory pre-movement testing for brucellosis in Northern Ireland was announced on 16 June 2003.During 2004, DARD consulted widely again about the draft legislation needed to introduce the requirement to test. Compulsory pre-movement testing was introduced in Northern Ireland on 1 December 2004.The purpose of the measure is to assist in the detection of brucellosis and to help prevent disease spread by reducing the number of infected animals moving between farms. The measure also ensures compliance with the relevant EU legislation. Under Council Directive 64/432/EEC, pre or post-movement testing is required in a member state (or region thereof) where the percentage of bovines infected with brucellosis exceeds 0.2 per cent. during a two-year period.DARD monitors the results of pre-movement testing, using the information held on its Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS), as part of its overall management of the brucellosis control programme. The effectiveness of pre-movement testing as a disease control measure is assessed on an on-going basis as part of this monitoring activity. DARD plans to review the impact of the existing control measures on the incidence of brucellosis as part of its next formal review of brucellosis control policy.No decision has been made in Northern Ireland to introduce compulsory pre-movement testing for bovine TB.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
50700; 442 c1525W;442 c1525W
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Cattle EU law Disease control Infectious diseases Northern Ireland Monitoring Testing Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland Executive) Brucellosis Animal and public health information system
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk