2506. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the prices paid by licenced approved meat processing facilities on a weekly basis for TB reactors are reported to his Department and included in the average prices reported on a weekly basis on his Department's website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55708/26]

The obligations on processors and the controls regarding the price reporting of cattle is laid down in EU legislation (specifically Commission Delegated Regulation 2017/1182 and Commission Implementing Regulation 2017/1184). Price reporting factories report the individual prices paid for all cattle slaughtered, including TB reactors, in the previous week to my Department.

However, the prices paid by processors in respect of TB reactors are excluded from the calculation of the weighted average weekly carcass price report as published by my Department as inclusion could distort the average prices paid for the typical commercial carcass.