Diseases Legislation The Diseases of Animals Act 1966 consolidated existing legislation and animal diseases. The legislation was updated in 2001 and was repealed by the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The legislation was supplemented by an enormous quantity of animal health legislation emanating from the European Union. Much of that is dealt with separately in the section under EU directives on various matters. Application […]
Powers of Inspectors An inspector appointed under the legislation has all the powers of a member of An Garda Síochána in the place where he is acting. He may enter land, buildings, pens or other places where animals are kept where he has reasonable grounds to suspect that disease exists or has existed within 56 days a carcass of a diseased or suspected animal or […]
Protection of animals during transport EU Council Regulation No. 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations prescribe strict standards for animal handling and the state of the vehicle and hygiene and, on long journeys, standards for feeding, watering, resting periods, journey times and stocking densities during transportation. The Regulation came into effect on 5 January 2007 and has been […]
Overall The principal diseases are notifiable. Any person who suspects the existence of a disease must notify the Department’s local district veterinary office. Restrictions on movement will be placed until the all-clear is given. There are parallel laws in relation to the disease eradication and control emanating from the European Union. For example, the BSE s governed by EU-based orders whereas bovine tuberculosis and foot […]
General Duties The animal health and welfare legislation applies to both farm animals and domestic animals. This chapter focuses principally on domestic animals. However, some of the obligations also apply to farm animals. Some of the powers and obligations referable to farm animals set out in other chapters also apply to domestic animals. A protected animal is any animal kept for farm and recreational, domestic […]
Inspection A person who has in his or her possession or under his control a domestic or farm animal must take all necessary measures to ensure the animal is regularly inspected. In the case of an animal being kept in an intensive unit, this must be not less than once a day. The person must thoroughly inspect the animal’s condition and state of health and […]
Codes of Practice on Animal Welfare The Minister for Agriculture may establish or adopt a code of practice, (published by others), for the purpose of giving practical guidance on the legislation. A code of practice may amongst other things provide for care of animals, good governance and operation of persons concerned with animal welfare, cruelty prevention, provision of sanctuary for animals, biosecurity measures, breeding and […]
Axis 1 Measures See the section on EU Law, which requires rural development strategies for the EU budgetary cycles 2007 to 2013. The following sets out a brief overview of the Irish measures for 2007-13. Axis 1 is aimed at improving competitiveness in the agricultural sector. The objectives include providing training in relation to Agri environmental requirements to optimise delivery, encourage the transfer of holdings […]
Rise of Protectionism The late 1920s and early 1930s saw a rise in protectionism in Europe. One of the key questions in the early years of the Irish Free State was whether, and to what extent to embark on a program of tariff protection. A fiscal enquiry committee that reported in 1923 came down firmly in favour of free trade. The first British Labour Government […]
Background Milk quotas were in place until 2014/2015. The milk quota system limited the national quota of milk. Each milk purchaser, including cooperatives and dairy companies were required to apply a super levy to producers who exceeded their individual quota. Unallocated quotas could be apportioned. The super levy was a 115 percent of the target price for milk (2009 1.66 euro per gallon). A dairy […]
Orders to Control The Destructive Insects and Pests (Consolidation) Act, 1958 provides for measures to deal with prevention and control of destructive insects or pests and for the biological control of plant pests. Crops cover agricultural crops as well as trees, bushes, seeds, plants and every part thereof. Destructive insects include insects destructive to crops, fungi and other pests, bacteria or other vegetable or animal […]
Single Farm Payment 2005 The European Commission’s mid-term review of the CAP agenda was the subject of negotiation over several years. Ultimately, in 2003, the Council of Ministers agreed to a fully decoupled Single Payment Scheme. The livestock premia and arable aid schemes which formerly applied were decoupled from production so that entitlement was no longer linked to the extent of production. The following former […]
Rural Environmental Protection Scheme The rural environment protection scheme encourages farmers to introduce agricultural production methods compatible with environmental protection and protection of the landscape and features. The REPS 4 programme commenced in 2007. The objective of REPS is to promote ways of using agricultural land compatible with the protection of the environment biodiversity landscape features, climate change, natural resources, soil, water quality and genetic […]
Axis 3 Measures Axis 3 measures are delivered through the so-called LEADER approach. They are designed to improve the quality of life in rural areas and promote diversification of the rural economy. This takes place through increasing the economic activity and employment rates in the wider rural community through encouraging on-farm diversification into non-agricultural activities, supporting and creating micro-enterprises, encouraging rural tourism built sustainable development […]
Statutory Management Requirements It is a condition of receipt of payments under the Single Payment Scheme and certain other similar schemes that the farmer complies with the statutory management requirements (SMR) and keeps the land in good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC). The statutory management requirements are set out in EU legislation on the environment, animal and public health and animal welfare. It is an […]
Various Schemes Some schemes continue to exist outside of the single farm payment, which are claimed on the single payment application. They include the following Disadvantaged area compensatory allowance scheme. Afforestation premium and grants scheme. Energy crops scheme. Dried fodder scheme. Suckler welfare scheme. Organic farming scheme. National energy premium scheme. Bioenergy establishment grant scheme. Installation aid scheme. Early retirement scheme. Scheme of investment aid […]
Bord Bia An Bord Bia is the Food Promotion Board. The Board was established in 1994 and took over the functions and amalgamated CBF Córas Beostoic agus Feola; the Irish Meat and Livestock Board’ and the food promotion activities of An Bord Tráchtála, the Irish Trade Board. The remaining part of the latter is now part of Enterprise Ireland. In 2004 An Bord Bia took […]
Teagasc Teagasc was established in 1998 under the Agricultural Research Training and Advice Act. It took over the functions of An Foras Taluntais and ACOT, the agricultural training body. Teagasc was established as the Agriculture and Food Development Authority. It united the advisory training and research functions. Teagasc has a staff of over 1200 persons, operates in 52 locations and has a budget of over […]
Start of 20th Century The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instructions was formed in 1900. By the time the Department was formed, the Land Commission purchase was underway. Tenant farmers had security of tenure and rents set by the Land Commission. The Land Commission had provided significant rent reductions in response to the decline in farm prices. Shortly afterwards, the process of land purchase accelerated […]
Functions The Department’s functions include development of a consumer-focused agrifood sector. Maintenance of high standards in the area of food safety, animal and plant welfare and health, disease elimination discharge of EU and national legislation payment of EU and national support schemes The Department has published a statement of strategy, consumer service action plan and customer charter. It is also published charters of rights for […]
World War II A state of emergency was declared on the outbreak of the Second World War and the government adopted emergency legislation giving itself significantly enhanced powers. Due to limited supplies, almost total self-sufficiency in agriculture was required. The Emergency Powers Act 1939 enabled the government to make emergency orders on almost any matter with the effect of legislation. Emergency orders were made, providing […]
Reform The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 updated and consolidated the wide range of animal health laws relating to both domestic and farmed animals. It repealed a wide range of legislation ranging from cruelty to animals legislation, treatment and slaughter of farm animals, livestock, diseases of animals legislation. An animal under the legislation covers the entire animal kingdom other than human beings. Farm animals […]
Authorised Officers The Department of Agriculture may appoint/authorise officers of the Department to enforce the animal health and welfare legislation. The local authority may appoint/authorise officers in respect of certain aspects of the legislation, in particular in respect of non-farm animals. The Department may contract under service agreements for the conferral of authorised officer powers on a contractor. In this latter case, the authorised officer’s […]
Seed Certification Seed certification is a quality assurance system designed to ensure that seeds intended for sale is subject to control, inspection, and quality standards. It certifies that the seed conforms with what is on its label and has been produced in accordance with the certification scheme. The objective is to provide high-quality seeds and prevent pests and diseases and maintain high standards of purity. […]
CAP, The Treaty of Rome, the founding document of the European Economic Community provided that this would be a common policy for agriculture. It stated that the maintenance of difference in agricultural systems would lead to distortion of competition and would impede trade and produce differences in food costs and hence in the cost of living prejudicial to true economic integration. When […]
Import of live animals. There are a number of directives dealing with both the import and transit of animals. One category of directives deals with imports from outside the EU, whereas another category deal with imports between EU states. Technically, imports between EU states are described as intra-EU trade whereas imports refer to imports from outside the EU. The directive on the import of live […]
The Common Agricultural Policy The Common Agricultural Policy consumes a large part of the EU budget, through the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF). The Guarantee element finances the expenditure on market organisation and rural development measures. The Guidance element finances other rural development expenditures. The fund is administered by the Commission and by member states. Institutions within states are designated for the administration […]
Cohesion Funds The Cohesion Funds (2007 to 2013) support measures under the convergence objectives. The aim is to accelerate convergence in EU states where development is lagging behind by improving conditions for growth and employment. The objective of the Fund is to provide sustainable development. The ceiling on the Cohesion Fund\’s contribution to public expenditure, which is co-financed by member states, is 85 per cent. […]
Background Agriculture has been at the heart of the European Union since its foundation. This reflects the post-war food security requirement and the strong political influence of France in the 1950s and 1960s with its large agricultural sector, relative to Germany. Agricultural competence is restated in the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union. The Treaties set out the objectives of the Common Agricultural […]
General There are a number of directives dealing with both the import and transit of animals. One category of directives deals with imports from outside the EU whereas another category deal with imports between EU states. Technically imports between EU states are described as intra EU trade whereas imports referred to imports from outside the EU. The directive on the import of live animals lays […]
Bovine and Swine There exist intra-EU controls on trade in certain animals. There is a directive on trade within the EU in bovine animals and swine for breeding, production, or slaughter. The transport of bovine animals and swine to another state is permitted if they do not display a sign of clinical disease they have not been obtained from a holding subject to a prohibition they […]
General EU laws on animal health and welfare are adopted by the Parliament and the EU Council, the latter acting by qualified majority voting. The rules usually reflect international standards including, in particular, those adopted by the World Organisation for Animal Health. EU funding typically covers 50 percent of the national government’s cost. EU legislation covered the following areas, in particular; Disease prevention; animal health […]
Identification and registration There are a number of EU regulations dealing with the identification and registration of animals. The purpose is to create a comprehensive tracing system to protect animal health and food safety. There are different regulations in respect of different species/products. Regulation in respect of the identification and registration of bovine animals and labelling of meat follow the pattern of the other regulations. […]