Minister explains selective beef ban

THE principle of banning beef imports from foot and mouth affected regions of Brazil and not from the entire country is the same as that applied in Ireland when a case of the disease was confirmed here over four years ago.

Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan explained the position in a written reply to a Dáil query by Seamus Kirk TD, who asked if consideration had been given to a total ban, having regard to the traumatic experience in the Cooley Peninsula, County Louth, where a single case of the disease was confirmed in 2001.

Minister Coughlan said the European Commission introduces safeguard measures limiting or banning the export of animal products from third countries where the conditions of an animal disease outbreak could seriously affect production and trade in animal products in the EU.