Thirty per cent of Irish dairy farmers have failed to supply health certificates for their herds under the EU Dairy Hygiene Regulations which became mandatory on July 1st. The European Commission brought forward the new regulations to ensure that milk was being produced in the cleanest conditions possible.
The new regulations were criticised by the Irish farming organisations on the basis that they would involve farmers in additional cost and paperwork. Following a long dispute, agreement was reached on the cost of certification between the organisations and the Irish Veterinary Union. But yesterday, the Department of Agriculture confirmed that only 70 per cent of the country's dairy farmers had supplied the health certificates to their local co-operatives. Both the department spokesman and Mr John Tyrell of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, however, said they expected all suppliers would supply the certificates within a few weeks.
Mr Tyrell, whose organisation is the umbrella group for the Irish dairy co-operatives, said that vets and farmers were working "flat out" to supply the certs. Some co-operatives had reported 100 per cent compliance.
The industry is concerned that if the farmers fail to supply the certificates, sensitive markets for Irish dairy products could be lost.