Department axes payments move on TB testing

A MOVE by the Dept. of Agriculture to make some farmers pay for having a second TB test in the one year, has been dropped following pressure from the IFA.

The Department had proposed to ‘penalise’ farmers who missed the deadline for their annual test by making them pay for a second one, if it was required due to TB problems in the area.

Where extra contiguous tests were required – normally if neighbouring farmers had reactors – the Dept. of Agriculture always paid for the second test.

However a number of weeks back, it emerged that the Dept. of Agriculture had proposed that in cases where farmers missed their deadline for the annual test – even by a day – that they would be required if any contiguous test requirement arose.

The issue led to a series of meetings between senior IFA representatives and Dept. of Agriculture officials over recent weeks – at the time the IFA accused the Department of being involved in a ‘money grabbing’ exercise.

Galway IFA Livestock Committee Chairman, Michael Flynn, confirmed to the Farming Tribune that the issue had now been resolved satisfactorily with a return to the status quo.

“This really should never have arisen in the first place – it was something that we opposed totally from the start. There was never any basis for it,” said Michael Flynn.

He said that the DVOs (District Veterinary Offices) would be notified of the return to the status quo arrangements this week.

“We had a number of meetings with Department officials on the issue and I’m glad to say that the matter has been resolved.

“Farmers who had to have a second contiguous test were under enough pressure without the threat of a second test payment hanging over them,” said Michael Flynn.

The payment exemptions applies where a farmer has to have a contiguous test within 10 months of his own annual test. After 10 months, the farmer pays, but that test is then taken has his annual test for the coming year.