Allister condemns Brucellosis testing delays
13 May 2008
Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister has hit out at increasing delays in farmers receiving results of Brucellosis tests.
In a letter to DARD, the MEP said,
“Farmers have raised with me concerns at delays in receiving the results of Brucellosis blood tests. My understanding is that it is now commonplace for herd test results to take 3 to 4 weeks to come back, which commonsense itself would indicate is a risky strategy to take regarding disease management.”
“Delays in test results being processed has direct implications for farm businesses curtailed from buying or selling animals as a result. This is a clear example of DARD bureaucracy causing financial loss to farmers, which has got to stop.”
“Furthermore, my concerns lie in DARD’s inability to act quickly to remove positive animals from farms, where a positive reading is found. This is also increasing the likelihood of the disease spreading to other animals on a herd where Brucellosis may be in existence, which is hardly the recipe for competent disease management.”
“I understand DARD has been holding Brucellosis roadshows in recent months. Perhaps time would be better spent putting its own house in order, rather than deflecting the blame at farmers.”
ENDS
