The key change in the revised legislation is the removal of the option of using a supplementary tissue tag to take a sample for a confirmatory test following an initial positive or inconclusive result (Regulation 7) or to take a sample from an animal suspected of being affected by bovine viral diarrhoea virus (Regulation 8).
In both cases only blood samples collected by a veterinary practitioner be used.
Statutory Instrument No. 182/2020 (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (amendment) Regulations 2020) was published in Iris Oifigiúil on 21st May 2020.
The aim of this amendment is to provide for the compulsory testing of all cattle, including animals born before the 1st January 2013, for the presence of bovine viral diarrhoea virus. This excludes female animals that have had one or more calves which have been tested for BVD.
Statutory Instrument 412 of 2021 (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (amendment) Regulations 2021) was published in Iris Oifigiúil on 30th July 2021.
This amendment removes Regulation 7 which previously provided the option of a repeat analysis on a blood sample following an initial positive or inconclusive result.