Vol. 216 No. 5
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether antibiotics are used in the treatment of dairy cows suffering from mastitis and other diseases; whether treatments are carried out by veterinary surgeons; and, if not, what steps are taken to ensure that milk from cows so treated is not sold for human consumption, at least until such time as it can be certified as safe for consumption.
43.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, in view of the report that milk for human consumption has been found to contain antibiotics and in view of the report submitted to Dublin Health Authority on Thursday, 3rd June, by the Chief Medical Officer, he will indicate what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the public is safeguarded, and that persons responsible for selling or supplying milk containing antibiotics dangerous to health are made liable to heavy penalties.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together.
Antibiotics are used in the treatment of dairy cows affected by mastitis and other diseases. My Department, through the advisory services and general publicity, has directed the attention of milk producers to the importance of seeking veterinary advice in dealing with mastitis and to the desirability of not selling milk from cows which have been treated with antibiotics for at least three days after the final treatment.
A detailed examination of the question of introducing controls on the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry is at present being carried out in my Department.
Is the Minister aware that 14 per cent of the samples taken in Dublin recently were found to contain antibiotics, and that in the case of Dún Laoghaire, 25 per cent of the samples taken of milk sold were found to contain antibiotics?
I am not so aware.
