New legislation to allow farmers carry out basic animal treatments

FARMERS will be able to legally carry out basic animal treatments such as bovine hoof trimming, farriery and scanning of cattle and sheep if proposed amendments to the Veterinary Practice Act 2005 are approved.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney yesterday secured Government approval to publish a bill outlining the proposed amendments. He said the goal is to ensure that procedures on animals, which do not require the expertise of a veterinary practitioner or nurse, can still be carried out by trad-itional service providers.

He expects the bill to be enacted into law in the next Dáil session, after which he would adopt detailed regulations setting down the parameters for each exempted practice and the conditions attaching to each practice.

Mr Coveney said: “We need to drive and keep down farming costs in the interests of competitive-ness and growing the industry, but, of course,in a manner which is con-sistent with ensuring that animal health and welfare are not compromised.

“Persons with appropriate skills and training have traditionally looked after various aspects of animals’ health and welfare needs without difficulty and it is important that there would be no legal doubt about their ability to continue to do so.

“Procedures such as bovine hoof trimming, farriery or scanning of cattle and sheep, are important to maintaining an animal’s well-being and should continue to be carried out under the least costly option.”

Mr Coveney said the 2005 Act was not intended to restrict skilled personnel from attending to the ongoing and routine needs of animals where the expertise of a veterinary practitioner or a veterinary nurse is not required. The bill makes provision for developing areas of expertise, such as physio-therapy and equine dentistry. It will ensure consistency with recent legislation governing the medical and pharmacy professions, notably in areas such as fitness to practice procedures and enforcement.

ICSA president Gabriel Gilmartin said: “All avenues must be explored to reduce running costs, and vet bills are near the top of farmers’ expenses. We would also encourage the minister to look at reviewing the cost of medicines in Ireland. Our animal medicines are hugely expensive when compared to our nearest neighbours in the North and the UK.”