IMPORT CONTROLS to prevent bluetongue disease spreading in Ireland need to be widened to fend off the threat to livestock here, according to vets.
Their representative organisation, Veterinary Ireland, has issued a statement calling on the Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, to extend her ban on the importation of all cattle, sheep and goats from bluetongue-restricted zones.
"The emerging information on the ability of this virus to spread by means not previously understood is hugely significant. Existing import control measures are now inadequate," it said.
Organisation president Ciara Feeney said vets fully support Ms Coughlan's suspension of the importation of certain cattle and sheep from bluetongue-restricted zones.
"We would urge the Minister to go the next step and suspend the importation of all cattle, sheep and goats from these restricted zones," Ms Feeney said. "The organisation believes that an all-Ireland policy to protect this island is now an immediate priority and Veterinary Ireland is also urging Minister Gildernew to implement the same restrictions in Northern Ireland."
Veterinary Ireland is the latest organisation to seek a blanket ban on imports from bluetongue-infected countries.
Ulster Farmers' Union president Kenneth Sharkey, the Irish Farmers' Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association and the Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers' Association have all sought a blanket ban.
Current EU rules regarding the prevention and control of bluetongue were described as "both impractical and illogical and need to be reviewed as a matter of priority", Martin McMahon, chairman of the ICMSA's beef and cattle committee, said yesterday.
"If bluetongue arrives in Ireland, it will not only lead to considerable movement restrictions but also lead to livestock mortality, poor animal health and performance, as well as imposing considerable additional costs on farmers with the negative impact on farm incomes that comes from that," said Mr McMahon.
The rapid spread of the disease is beginning to disrupt the live cattle trade across Europe.
Italy has banned the import of live animals from France and this is creating a glut in southern France.