Checks on BSE impress delegate from Egypt

A MEMBER of the Egyptian veterinary delegation visiting Ireland said last night he was impressed by the measures taken here against BSE.

Irish officials led by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, are trying to persuade the Egyptians to lift their ban on live cattle imports, worth £80 million to Ireland.

Prof Adel Fayed from Cairo University said he had seen the Irish eradication system in action in the first two days of the four-day trip. He told The Irish Times he had been surprised by the identification system and the way meat was handled in the slaughterhouse, with the removal of brain and spinal cord from the food chain.

Asked if Egypt would lift its ban, Prof Fayed said it was not his job to make that decision. He would be reporting back to the authorities on what he had seen.

Yesterday the three-member Egyptian delegation of veterinary experts visited the Teagasc beef research centre in Co Meath and several farms. They also visited Waterford port.

Last night Mr Yates met the delegation in Dublin. A spokesman for the Department said the negotiations remained "tough" and neither side would be disclosing details of the main issues.

Mr Yates told reporters that he had taken a number of measures against the BSE problem. The Department has submitted an eradication plan to the Standing Veterinary Committee of the European Commission.

"Once that's adopted there will be a clear light at the end of the tunnel."

Mr Yates said he would also seek a further round of compensation for farmers affected by BSE. He added that the Government would be willing to give the Egyptians technical assistance if they introduced an offal ban.

Earlier Mr Yates announced new regulations for livestock marts which will apply from February 3rd. Under the regulations marts will be obliged to ensure that owners' names, addresses and information on the last bovine TB and brucellosis test are publicly identified before a sale.

This information, for both sheep and cattle sales, would be displayed on boards at a mart.

The move was welcomed by the Irish Cattle Traders' and Stockowners' Association and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association.