ICMSA warns of confusion over TB rules

THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture must sharpen its communications on new bovine tuberculosis (bTB) rules or risk “avoidable confusion” during the autumn cattle trading season, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association deputy president Eamon Carroll has warned.

Speaking after a meeting with minister for agriculture Martin Heydon, Mr Carroll said that while there had been notable improvements in how the new rules were being communicated to farmers, more work was needed.

The comments come amid a decline in herd incidence, with over 1,000 fewer herds restricted compared to last year, marking a reduction of more than 20% in some areas.

Despite the positive trend, Mr Carroll said now was the time to build on the progress made rather than to ease off.

“We do acknowledge the introduction of the special hotline – which had been committed to originally at our request and then promptly forgotten about by all except ourselves – and we are happy to acknowledge that communication has been improved,” he said.

“But it is still not where it should be, and we predict another massive bout of confusion around the traditional autumn buying and selling of cattle as farmers try to work out what is within and without the new rules,” he added.

Mr Carroll said the department should use the coming ten to 12 weeks to refine its communications and ensure up-to-date information and advice was easily accessible to all farmers. He pointed to the hotline as an example of the kind of communication needed.

“Farmers who suffer a breakdown can ring up and get their official status and what to expect, and that’s a great example of what’s required,” he said. “That needs to be expanded and resourced and become a ‘one-stop shop’ for farmers wishing to discuss any aspect of TB issues.” 

According to Mr Carroll, the critical requirement is the ability to establish the bTB status of an individual animal being considered for the mart, with clarification needed well in advance of sale. He also called on the department to be more transparent about its progress in rolling out its action plan.

“We also told the minister and his officials that it would be incredibly useful for the department to show at what stage of the action plan they think they are at, and how they think the introduction is going so far. For instance, do they have any collated farmer reaction yet?” 

Mr Carroll raised concerns that some contract rearers may not be fully aware of the new rules governing testing requirements before animals are contracted out or returned to their original herds.

“The whole point here is that we all normalise the new rules as soon and as smoothly as possible,” he said. “We know that the rate of infection appears to be falling. Now is the time to double down on work and effort and attack this scourge on farmers for good.”