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A new EU rule imposing a 30-day pre-movement TB test on farmers would only benefit vets and factories, the IFA has said.
Under the new EU Animal Health Law, farmers that are more than six months since their last TB test would be required to test 30 days before a movement.
Reject
IFA animal health chair Pat Farrell has called on the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to stand firm and reject the proposal.
He said this proposal is not scientifically based, will be a major impediment to the competitive marketing of animals and could cost the Irish TB programme up to €20m a year.
“The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and our MEPs cannot allow the EU to impose this anti-competitive market-distorting expense on Irish farmers who already incur a disproportionate cost burden in the TB programme in comparison to all other farmers throughout the EU,” said Farrell.
The additional costs and inconvenience will drive more farmers directly to factories, removing vital competition
The new legislation is currently open for publication.
According to Farrell, the proposed testing rule would have a huge distortion to the sales and marketing of cattle in this country and would impact negatively on the functioning of the live export trade.
“This requirement will impact severely on marts and throughput in mart sales, as the additional costs and inconvenience will drive more farmers directly to factories, removing vital competition to the benefit of factories,” he said.
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