Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew has confirmed this month that tighter import controls are being implemented with immediate effect on Bluetongue susceptible animals.
Confirming the move the Minister said, "The European Commission has recognised the need for tighter controls to slow the spread of bluetongue and has introduced additional measures, which allow me to introduce extra safeguards for our industry. These new controls mean that the only cattle, sheep and goats that can come from Bluetongue Zones to our farms, are those that are under 90 days old or are shown to be naturally immune or have been vaccinated. Animals from these very limited categories must also meet stringent pre-export test requirements with additional rules applying to female animals."
These new rules align the North's import controls for intra-community trade with those in the South. This reaffirms the joint position taken by Gildernew and Mary Coughlan, who is the Minister for Agriculture and Food in the South, at the recent North South Ministerial Council to keep the island of Ireland Bluetongue-free.
In addition, Gildernew has announced her intention to seek the necessary resources to order almost 2 million doses of Bluetongue vaccine, which will be used if there is an outbreak.
