Positive BSE test ‘should not damage export market’

The Department of Agriculture fears that the suspected BSE case in a Louth dairy farm could see Ireland lose its negligible risk status for the disease.

Ireland’s status for mad cow disease was only last week upgraded by the World Organisation for Animal Health, but should tests confirm suspicions the country may revert to a “controlled risk status” for BSE.

Test results are expected in a week and, if confirmed, will be the first BSE case found in Ireland since 2013.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that it is “accepted that it will be a positive test when it’s confirmed”.

“This is an isolated incident,” he said. “It’s one that we’re obviously concerned about. It’s been highlighted because of the exceptionally rigid system that we have for detecting abnormalities in the system.

“It’s a setback but it puts us back to a situation we were in. I hope that we can have accuracy and a full understanding of how this actually happened or how this actually came to light.”

China and America had been informed, Mr Kenny said, adding: “It’s a disappointment, to put it mildly, given the very rigid standards that we have in our systems.

“I understand that the animal was bought in. I’m not sure whether it was carrying the virus at that point or not. The analysis will determine that.”

The Irish Food Board said it is confident that this isolated case will not adversely impact on the reputation of Irish beef among its European and international customer base.

Bord Bia said that, even with a ‘controlled risk status’, Ireland traded beef successfully in Europe and internationally.

“It is this ‘control risk status’ that has also enabled Ireland to achieve access to the US, Japan, and to secure the recent lifting of the beef ban in China,” a Bord Bia statement read.

Irish Farmers’ Association president Eddie Downey said the robust traceability and monitoring controls adopted by farmers and the sector “ensure the health status and quality of our agri-produce”.

“This isolated case shows the effectiveness of the monitoring and control systems in place in Ireland,” he said.