The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has said that the planned transfer of Local Authority Veterinary Services to the department is due to proceed on January 1 next.
In July, a joint memo was presented to the Cabinet on a phased transfer plan on behalf of DAFM and the Department of Health.
This came as part of ongoing discussions between the two departments, along with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
The government also agreed on a permanent transfer of funding from the Department of Health to DAFM, along with the transfer of relevant staff resources from local authorities.
DAFM
In a statement to Agriland, a DAFM spokesperson said that “the planned transfer is on track to take place on January 1 2025”.
“A phased transfer was considered, but on balance a full transfer on a single date was the preferred option.
“The aim is to have as little change as possible for the small meat businesses from January 1 onwards.
“There are no plans for any changes to inspection regimes. In general the same team of inspectors will be carrying out the work, but under the overall management of the department of agriculture from January 1,” they added.
The spokesperson said that “communication with stakeholders is active and ongoing”.
“The final stages in relation to registering the details of the businesses on the department of agriculture systems is in train,” they said.
Currently, around 30 local authority veterinary inspectors carry out food safety duties at some 500 food businesses across the country.
These are mainly smaller slaughter plants, smaller meat products plants, as well as some smaller poultry and other enterprises.
There are around 60 department of agriculture veterinary inspectors, supported by a number of technical staff, who carry out food safety duties in all larger slaughter plants and other larger meat plants, processing plants and cold stores.