Animal Health Council Report March 2025

TB

TB Controls: DAFM have suggested increased controls on higher risk breakdown farms, IFA has rejected the additional controls proposed by DAFM, stating that any new proposal should be proportionate and practical to implement at farm level, with minimal impact on normal well-established farm practices and maximise use of the current tools and policy options available. Wildlife continues to be the most significant driver of between farm spread of the disease and it must be addressed effectively in a new enhanced TB programme. Farmers are prohibited from taking the most effective measures on their farms to stop badgers infecting our animals with TB. It is the responsibility of the DAFM to implement a programme that removes this threat from and around our farms. 

TB Forum: At the last TB Forum all stakeholders were asked to make submissions on the TB Eradication Programme. IFA have a comprehensive submission covering all aspects of the programme and are currently having bi-lateral meetings with DAFM regarding enhancements to the TB eradication programme.     

TB Levels: TB levels are continuing to increase with 12 month rolling averages rising month on month. In the past year herd incidence has increased to 6.08%, with over 6,000 herds now restricted. This level of Tb has not been seen for decades, and action needs to be taken immediately by DAFM to full resource the eradication programme.

1. Wildlife programme: IFA has called for a reversal of the badger vaccination programme to address the unacceptable increase in the numbers of TB reactors. IFA has met with senior DAFM officials on the issue and highlighted the corelation between vaccination areas and high levels of TB in cattle. Lack of resources in implementing an effective wildlife control programme is a significant contributor to the increases in TB in cattle. 
2. Irish Deer Management Strategy Group: The IDMSG has issued a tender to employ a manager to implement the strategy of deer reduction, seven other staff will be hired following the hiring of the manager. This tender process was finalised in January 2025. There needs to be significant progress made this year in controlling the deer population and the onward spread of TB to bovines. 
3. Administrative delays: The new rate of income supplement payments is being paid to farmers who enter a breakdown since 29th February 2024. The top up to the old rate of payments farmers received since 1st February 2023 has not yet commenced. IFA has again raised this unacceptable delay with DAFM resulting in 1900 eligible farmers receiving written confirmation from DAFM in mid-October of monies owed. DAFM originally targeted the end of 2024 to process all payments due but to date have not commenced these payments. It is now 24 months since the new rates came into effect. This is an unacceptable delay on farmers under financial strain due to a TB restriction. 
4. TB Communications: Work has commenced in the TB Communications group on reviewing the tone of letters sent to farmers as part of the TB programme. The current letters are very intimidating and threatening to farmers and must be reworded. 
5. Support payments: IFA as part of the TB FWG, are involved in discussions on reviewing several aspects of TB supports. IFA have raised the issue of OFMV not keeping pace with current market prices amongst other issues including the recent change to EBI price coefficient which DAFM reduced from €1.05/€ EBI to 75c/€ EBI, a review of OFMV categorisation and summary price compilation and the Income Supplement, Hardship Grant and Depopulation Grant schemes. 

BVD

We are currently on track to obtain BVD free status under EU Animal Health Law. On attainment of recognised freedom vaccination would be prohibited. IFA position is we must protect the progress we have already made by seeking facilitation of vaccination for period after attainment of Free Status. During BVD free status proof of freedom monitoring required. The most effective and cost-effective method is to continue tissue tag testing. DAFM must pay for all remaining testing in the BVD programme estimated at €7.5million. In 2024 DAFM provided €3.75 million equating to €2.40 per calf for a max of 25 calves. 

Johnes Programme

Phase two of the Johnes programme ended in 2023. IFA are currently engaging with DAFM, ICOS and AHI to develop a funding model for the next phase of the programme. IFA are seeking full financial and technical support for farmers with herds positive for johnes. The BTM screening for johnes has proven to be a very effective screening tool for all dairy farms in the country allowing a targeted communication with potentially infected herds in a cost-efficient way.

IBR

AHI proposed a program that will cost €40 million per year and have a 16-year timeline to achieve eradication, along with some movement controls on farms. The funding model remains the critical issue that must be addressed to advance a programme. 

Fallen Animals

The current infrastructure provided by DAFM does not provide a guaranteed collection service for all farmers in the country and fails to have a competitive cost structure for the service. IFA have engaged with DAFM on the issue and called for the entire fallen animal disposal system to be reviewed 

Maximum fees allowed under DAFM Subvention Scheme.

	CATEGORY	MAXIMUM COLLECTION FEE
	Over 48 months	€54.03
	24-48 months	€100
BOVINE	12-24 months	€80
	6-12 months	€50
	3-6 months	€35
	0-3 months	€30
SHEEP		€30

Veterinary Medicines 

The Minister for Agriculture has signed the Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation

• It is to come into effect in June 2025 for Antiparasitic products
• Until then Antiparasitic products can continue to be purchased without prescription
• IFA engaged proactively with all stakeholders throughout the process and continue to raise concerns with the recently signed Regulation
• IFA made a detailed submission to the Minister and his officials identifying the key issues to be addressed in the Regulation which was broadly supported by all stakeholders.

Background.

• Antiparasitic products became Prescription only Medicines following the publication of the EU Veterinary Medicines Regulation in 2019 and subsequent HPRA review of these products. 
• Prior to this Ireland were the only country in the EU where these products were not POM’s
• The SI provides for vets on behalf of licenced merchants and Co-ops to prescribe for these outlets on completion of a Proper Assessment Protocol 
• The farmers own vet will continue to prescribe based on their knowledge of the farm, and the animals on it as is current practice. 
• There is a missed opportunity to broaden the supply base for farmers sourcing vaccines that are categorised as POM(E) medicines. 
• These products have always been available only through veterinary pharmacies and vets without the need for a prescription and will continue to be available through these outlets.

The validity period for Prescriptions for non-antimicrobial products has been set at 6 months

NVPS

During meetings with DAFM on NVPS, IFA raised a number of issues. The need for an on-farm supply of emergency use medicines, an agreement previously secured by IFA. The lack of visibility of the prescription to farmers, the timeline that prescriptions must be uploaded to NVPS and the flexibility to part fill prescriptions. DAFM has again accepted these needs and at our most recent meeting have committed to making changes to the NVPS. We are awaiting DAFMs proposals on how to address this and a number of other issues we have raised in relation to the NVPS

Availability of Vaccines 

There continues to be issues around the availability of key animal vaccines. IFA have called on the Minister for Agriculture to ensure the current supply issues for vaccines is addressed as a matter of urgency.

Bluetongue

Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) was detected in the Netherlands in 2023 and has successfully overwintered in several countries. In 2024, the disease has been detected in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Denmark, Poland, Great Britain Czech Republic, Sweden, Austria, and Norway.  A new serotype BTV-12 has been detected in The Netherlands. Genetically, it is unrelated to BTV-3 with its origins currently unknown. Other strains of Bluetongue stereotypes, BTV-4 and BTV-8, continue to circulate in other European countries with a more virulent strain of BTV-8 emerging in France in August 2023. This strain has more saver health implications with a high mortality rate amongst sheep flocks. There are approved vaccines available for both BTV4 and BTV-8 with different approaches being taken on the administration and cost burden in different countries.

Currently there are 212 confirmed cases of BTV-3 and one confirmed case of BTV12 in the UK. The UK had its first confirmed case of BTV-3 on the 26^th of August 2024 on a farm in South Norfolk with three further cases confirmed on the 28^th of August. By the 30^th of August the initial 20km radius temporary control zone was expanded to a disease control zone encompassing Counties Norfolk and Suffolk. The zone has extended from the Southeast of England northwards to York, westwards to Coventry and as far south as Devon. There have been 16 confirmed cases that are now outside the current restricted zone, with the two cases in Wales causing the most concern. Both ware high risk moves with no onward spread.

The approach by the Department of Agriculture is likely to mirror the EU and UK approach with the establish of an eradication programme for Bluetongue virus. Measure likely will be,

• Initial 20km zone around the outbreak for a period of up to 72hours to assess the epidemiological situation of the outbreak. All animal movements will be restricted within this area. 
• Infected animals will be immediately removed from the farm
• The zone will be increased up to 150km if the spread cannot be contained or is seen to have already spread from the initial outbreak.
• From an epidemiological perspective zones and controls may differ depending on the location and susceptible species density etc.
• Live exports within the zone are immediately stopped
• If there is a restriction zone that crosses from NI to ROI or vice versa then exports will not be affected in the country that does not have the outbreak
• Animals outside the restricted zone can continue to be exported and under certain precautions, transit through restricted areas to export.

Foot and Mouth

Foot and Mouth was confirmed in 3 water buffalo in the Brandenburg region of Germany on the 10^th of January. The 3 water buffalo were part of a herd of 20 which ware all culled along with two neighbouring farms. A movement trace of all susceptible animals from the Brandenburg region was carried out with monitoring of farms where animals moved into. Most notable veal producers in The Netherlands who closed their premises from animals entering for a period of three weeks.

On Thursday 6th of March 2025, Hungary confirmed an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), in a dairy farm in Northern Hungary, near Gyor, close to the Slovakian border. The virus serotype is not known yet and investigation is underway to determine the source of infection, serotype O, the strain that was detected in Germany has been ruled out.  A protection zone with a 3 km radius and a surveillance zone with a 10 km radius have been established, within which strict controls apply, movement of susceptible animals is prohibited, and checks on livestock are underway.  There is also a 10km restriction zone in Slovakia, close to the Hungarian border. Hungary has introduced a movement restriction of all susceptible animals in that region of the country for 72 hours. After that, only direct transport to slaughter will be permitted in the region until the 17th of March.  All international movement of susceptible animals out of Hungary has been suspended until further notice, DAFM have confirmed that no susceptible animals have been imported into Ireland in the last 60 days. 

DAFM view as it stands, at the moment, is that the risk of introduction is low but the consequences of an introduction to this country would be very serious from a trade access perspective There are vaccines for some strains of FMD but the strain in the Hungarian case has not yet been identified. An outbreak of FMD has very serious implications for access to international markets for the entire country. Trade within the EU is only prohibited from within the restriction zones in the affected country. The mass cull of animals in herds contiguous to confirmed cases is no longer deemed a proportionate control. Positive animals and other animals in positive herds would likely be culled with movement controls and possibly vaccination utilised in areas/regions of confirmed cases. If vaccines are used as part of the control policy, it delays return of market access by up to 3 months.

Representation

• TB Forum 
• TB Implementation Group 
• TB Finance Working Group 
• TB Technical Working Group
• TB Communications Group
• BVD IG
• Johne’s Disease IG
• IBR IG
• Interdepartmental INAP Stakeholder Group (AMR)
• INAP Animal Health Committee
• Antiparasitic Stakeholder Group
• FAWAC and FAWN
• Copa-Cogeca WP on Animal Health & Welfare
• Veterinary Council of Irelands Workforce Review Group
• Bluetongue virus stakeholder group