Farming: Minister Heydon launches second National Farmed Animal Biosecurity Strategy
The strategy outlines the importance of farmed animal biosecurity in Ireland, as well as ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are aware of their role and responsibilities in practicing effective biosecurity.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has officially launched the second National Farmed Animal Biosecurity Strategy (2025-2030).
The strategy outlines the importance of farmed animal biosecurity in Ireland, as well as ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are aware of their role and responsibilities in practicing effective biosecurity. The strategy has six key objectives:
•Investigate and use novel methods to distribute information on biosecurity and expand the availability of biosecurity information online.
•Continue work on developing and publishing Codes of Practice for farm biosecurity.
•Identify and address barriers to the implementation of effective and consistent biosecurity measures through research, including department and other stakeholder funded research.
•Collaborate with farm organisations, educational and advisory service providers, veterinary practitioners, and other stakeholders to promote effective, sustained biosecurity practices through evidence-based behavioural change strategies.
•Increase awareness amongst stakeholders of the legislative obligations and biosecurity related provisions in both national and EU legislation.
•Continue engagement and collaboration between the Competent Authorities in Ireland and Northern Ireland in relation to an all-island approach to disease prevention and control.
Launching the new strategy, Minister Heydon said: “I am delighted to launch the second National Farmed Animal Biosecurity Strategy, a strategic plan for biosecurity over the next five years.
"The strategy has been launched at a particularly important time with the recent outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and the arrival of Bluetongue in Northern Ireland.
“Effective, consistent biosecurity practices protect and strengthen animal health and welfare, while also contributing to the improvement of animal production and quality. Preventing disease and maintaining good herd and flock health is essential to facilitating export market access and maintaining our reputation with trading partners.
“The success of the first biosecurity strategy demonstrates effective planning, hard work, and good collaboration between all stakeholders, and gives a solid foundation for this new strategy to build on.”
The first National Farmed Animal Biosecurity Strategy was launched in 2021 and its key highlights included:
•The number of farmers availing of Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH) biosecurity reviews for pigs and poultry increased by 105% from 2021 to 2024, meaning that biosecurity is being more efficiently monitored on Irish farms.
•The introduction of Bioscore Dairy, this tool facilitates the identification of deficits in biosecurity management practices and comparison between dairy farms and benchmarking nationally. There have been 1,388 reviews completed to date in 2025.
•Biosecurity Codes of Practice have been developed and published for indoor commercial pigs, poultry, and dairy cattle.
•Development of Biosecuriity.ie website in conjunction with Animal Health Ireland.
•Increased collaboration between competent authorities in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Commenting on emerging biosecurity threats, Minister Heydon added: “Geographically, Ireland holds a unique advantage in terms of biosecurity, particularly in protection against exotic animal diseases.
"However, with recent outbreaks of exotic diseases and the increased threat of other disease incursions, it is important not to become complacent.
"In 2025, we saw Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks in three countries in the EU, a wave of outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza across Europe, including four in Ireland and the recent Bluetongue outbreak in Northern Ireland. This highlights the ongoing threats we face.
“Therefore, it is important that we all work together and practice effective biosecurity measures on our farms to mitigate the risk of diseases spreading in Ireland. I look forward to engaging with stakeholders in the months ahead to ensure this new strategy delivers upon its objectives.”
The strategy will complement the forthcoming Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy and biosecurity measures in place in the aquaculture sector, as well as reinforce other department and agency strategies and regulatory frameworks such as the Climate Action Plan 2025.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will continue to engage and work closely with The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) on an all-island approach to exotic disease prevention and control.
A copy of the second National Farmed Animal Biosecurity Strategy (2025-2030) can be found on the Department’s website.
