ICMSA say TB eradication depends on “right-across-the-sector” effort and commitment

Speaking following the announcement from Senior Department of Agriculture and the Marine officials that the new rules on TB will commence and be applicable in early April, the Deputy President of ICMSA, Eamon Carroll, said the announcement followed a meeting between ICMSA and the Department and an exchange of communications arising out of that meeting.  The immediate problem still to be resolved, according to Mr. Carroll, was the lack of any kind of detailed timeline from the Department on when the new measures will be introduced.

“Are all the new rules being implemented on the same day and what is the exact date?  Farmers are making decisions for the year at this stage, they are the people who will be directly impacted, and the Department should be communicating directly with farmers at this stage so that they know exactly where they stand”, said Mr. Carroll. 

Mr. Carroll repeated his frustration that the new rules seemed to apply exclusively to farmers with the other ‘players’ remaining unaffected and unbothered to carry on as before.

“We’ve been repeating this point for some time now: the Minister’s new rules impose the largest and most significant burden on the farmers and what we all need to see now is similarly clear and precise targets put in place for the other stakeholders – including the Department – and critically, that all sources of TB are properly addressed.  Farmers will struggle to understand why the new rules entail precise obligations on farmers, but nothing at all or ‘airy-fairy’ aspirations on all other stakeholders. It is categorically not the farmer’s fault that his or her herd has become infected – but these rules seem to place all the burden for eradication on the farmers and none at all on other obvious elements that need to be addressed”, he said

“TB remains a huge problem at farm level and the Department is saying that the new rules should lead to reductions in infection levels across the country.  Farmers will play their part and the Departments’ rules are very specific for farmers, but farmers are entitled to see delivery right-across-the sector. By that I mean an effective and timely wildlife programme for badgers and deer, an increased ceiling on compensation to reflect current replacement values, proper controls on Controlled Finishing Units and dealers.  We cannot have a scenario whereby it is all about rules on farmers and the everyone else involved in the agri sector simply carry on as normal. Farmers will not accept this – and they’re absolutely right not to do so”

Concluding, Mr. Carroll said if the Department intends to proceed with the introduction of the new rules in April, then they need to come forward with precise starting dates and the new rules that will apply to the other relevant parties with the same vigour as they will be applied to the farmers.

Ends    28 January 2026

Eamon Carroll, 087-6312945

Deputy President, ICMSA.

Or

Cathal MacCarthy, 087-6168758

ICMSA Press Office