Reacting to confirmation by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of a case of Atypical BSE in a 9-year-old cow, IFA Animal Health Chair David Hall said the development was disappointing but emphasised that it demonstrates the effectiveness of Ireland’s BSE Surveillance Scheme.
“While any case of this nature is concerning, it is important to recognise that this detection highlights the quality of our BSE Surveillance Scheme. Ireland’s systems are designed to identify and isolate such instances, and that is exactly what has occurred,” David Hall said.
The IFA Animal Chair stressed that there is no food safety risk to consumers.
“Ireland retains its WOAH ‘negligible risk’ status for BSE, which is based on a comprehensive surveillance and control programme, and this isolated atypical case should not alter that classification.”
IFA Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said the impact on trade would be limited and manageable.
“Exports will only be affected in a small number of markets, and our key export destinations will not be impacted by this development,” Declan Hanrahan said.
Declan Hanrahan also stressed that the situation must not be used to undermine farmer returns.
“Factories cannot and must not use this case as an excuse to lower beef prices. Supplies of finished cattle are tightening significantly, with throughput running behind last year and fewer animals expected in the months ahead.”
“The fundamentals of the market remain strong, and farmers are entitled to a fair price for their stock,” he concluded.
