Northern Ireland agriculture minister, Andrew Muir, has clarified the current bluetongue regulations and their impact on imports of live animals into NI from the rest of the UK.
He explained that under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and the Windsor Framework, live animal moves from Great Britain (GB) to NI are subject to agreed certificates, which contain criteria that an official veterinarian must attest to by signing.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), bluetongue is an insect-borne viral disease to which all species of ruminants are susceptible, although sheep are most severely affected.
Cattle and goats which appear healthy can carry high levels of the virus and provide a source of further infection. Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. It is a disease of animals, not humans, so there are no human or public health issues.
The disease is caused by a virus which is transmitted by certain species of biting midges. The Culicoides species of midge which carries the infection is found in Northern Ireland.
The first case of bluetongue since March 2024 was detected in a single sheep at a premises near Haddiscoe, South Norfolk on August 26. Since then, the disease has been confirmed on 33 further premises.
The minister said: “As a result of the BTV-3 confirmations in GB, the direct movement of all live ruminants and camelids from GB to NI is suspended as they cannot meet export certification requirements.”
As a consequence, the movement of ruminants and camelids from GB to NI can recommence when GB recovers its European Union (EU) recognised disease-free status for BTV.
“The minimum period required before disease-free status can be granted by the EU is two years from the date of the last positive case, with GB completing the surveillance required,” the minister added.
“If an authorised vaccine becomes available for the BTV-3 strain before then, vaccination may allow the movements of vaccinated ruminants.”
Muir given report on sheep
Meanwhile, representatives from Northern Ireland’s Sheep Industry Taskforce will brief members of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) committee at Stormont on Thursday next, September 11.
The meeting will allow elected representatives to be updated on the challenges facing flock owners across Northern Ireland at the present time.
The taskforce comprises representatives from: Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU); Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association (NIMEA); Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers’ Association (NIAPA); the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC); National Sheep Association (NSA); and Ulster Wool.
The group’s report was published in February 2023. It underlined the importance of sheep production to Northern Ireland’s economy and identified how it could be supported to deliver much more.
The report specifically calls for collaboration between government, meat processors and farmers to ensure the sheep industry has a stable and sustainable future at the heart of the rural economy.
The work of the taskforce has specifically identified the need to maintain a ‘critical mass’ within the sheep sector.
Andrew Muir recently visited the Co. Antrim farm of Campbell Tweed. While there, the DAERA minister was provided with an overview of the potential role that EasyCare cheep can play in Northern Ireland.
Campbell Tweed is also a member of the Sheep Industry Taskforce.
He commented: “I got the impression that the minister will commit to introduce specific support measures for the sheep industry in the near future.
“These might well include capital grants and assistance aimed at improving the genetics of our sheep population.”
