Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith today confirmed that he intends to apply to the EU for officially brucellosis-free status for Ireland next April.
Speaking at the Beef Expo in Kilkenny, Minister said: "We are in a position to do this because of the dramatic reduction in the incidence of brucellosis over the past ten years and because there had been no confirmed outbreak of this disease here since April 2006."
He added: "This success is due to a number of factors, not least the full co-operation of all stakeholders with the eradication regime, which included comprehensive testing and depopulation arrangements, the tightening up on illegal cattle movements, the regulation of dealers and appropriate follow up of breaches and failures to comply with animal disease and identification regulations."
The Minister acknowledged the eradication arrangements had been disruptive and costly both to farmers and the Department due to compensation and costs incurred on testing and other economic losses arising from the premature removal of infected cattle.
Mr Smith said that he had discussed this issue recently with his counterpart in Northern Ireland, Ms Michelle Gildernew, and that he intended to continue to work closely with her on the issue.
Brucellosis causes cows and heifers to abort and can be passed to humans in contaminated unpasteurised dairy products or by direct contact.
The disease almost lost Ireland the right to sell dairy products or live animals abroad nine years ago.
