Officials from both the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine met today (Thursday, April 23) to discuss new TB movement regulations.

As a result of the government's TB Action Plan, farmers have seen significant changes on how cattle can move through livestock marts.

For farmers who are selling cattle, the animal is assigned to one of three groups so that it can be presented for sale.

The Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system then notifies the mart of this animal's specific grouping.

ICOS said that co-op marts across the country “have worked diligently to familiarise themselves with the new requirements and are committed to supporting their full and effective operation to protect both animal health and the smooth functioning of livestock trade”.

'Uncertainty'

However, ICOS also said it had received reports from marts in a number of areas highlighting in some instances, at local veterinary official level, where a varying level of operational awareness of the regulations “may have created uncertainty for marts and their customers”.

Ray Doyle, national livestock and environment executive of ICOS said: “Given the significance of these regulations for farmers, marts and the overall livestock sector, consistency in the interpretation and application of the regulations is essential.

“We appreciate the department’s engagement on these practical implementation issues. We welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively to ensure the regulations are applied in a workable manner to support disease control while minimising any unnecessary disruption for farmers and mart operations.”

‘Constructive’

Doyle also told Agriland that the meeting “went very well”.

“A big challenge was communication - everyone understanding the changes,” he added.

He identified that one problem was “the lack of understanding by farmers, agents, dealers, mart managers, but especially the department staff themselves – they don’t understand and farmers are ringing for clarification and they can’t get it".

Doyle added: “That was a big ask – all department staff being fully au fait with changes.”

Other issues, he said, included “exports to Northern Ireland”.

“There is an issue there, but that’s related to operational changes – nothing that can’t be sorted," he added.

Timeline

Doyle told Agriland that the department “has taken our concerns on board and will get back within a few weeks.”  

He added: “Everybody has gone away happy, the department as well.

“From everyone’s point of view it was a constructive meeting.”

ICMSA

Earlier this week, Eamon Carroll, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) deputy president, said there is "utter confusion" around the new requirements in marts and he is called for "changes and clarifications" particularly in relation to the online compliance certificate.

Carroll said the farm organisation has been "inundated with queries around the warning at the top of the compliance cert that is issued when a purchaser and a seller are completing a sale".