Herd-keepers should note that this restriction will apply only to the individual animal that has not been tested within 15 months and will not restrict the whole herd.
Any individual animals affected will not be permitted to move off-farm except directly to immediate slaughter here. The restrictions will be lifted from the animal once a clear TB test result is obtained for the animal. Herdkeepers may have the animal tested as part of the next herd test or, should they wish to have the animal tested sooner, they may have the animal tested privately at their own expense.
Herdkeepers can check if any animals within their herds have not had a TB test within the last 15 months, either by logging on to DARD’s APHIS on-line system, or by contacting their local Divisional Veterinary Office.
Herdkeepers are advised to check the test status of any animal they are buying, so that they are aware before purchase when it was last TB tested. The seller should be able to give you this information. Such information is available to marts via APHIS on-line. At the larger livestock markets, buyers will be able to see the date of the last TB test for an animal on the display board over the ring at the time of sale. The responsibility will rest with buyers to check the TB test status of any animal they are buying.
It is important that you check the test status of your animals on 4 July if you are planning to move or sell your animals the following day, as a restriction will apply on 5 July to any animal that has not been tested.
Notes to Editors:
- In Northern Ireland, annual TB testing is carried out in accordance with EU Directive 64/432 which requires that for a herd to retain officially tuberculosis free status all animals on the holding must be tested on an annual basis.
- From 1 November 2004, where an annual herd test is not completed by the due date, the herd in question is subject to restrictions. However, individual animals may miss annual herd tests because they have moved between herds.
- On 17 April 2008, DARD announced a technical adjustment to the TB testing programme which affects the testing of single animals. During April the Chief Veterinary Officer wrote to all herdkeepers to tell them what steps they can take to ensure all animals in their herds are tested.
- All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, tel 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
