asked the Minister for Health if he has heard of a certain danger of meat-eaters building up a resistance to penicillin and similar drugs; and, if so, if he will discuss with the agricultural authorities the advisability of limiting at source the amount of antibiotics that can be used in feedingstuffs and the introduction of new safety limits for the injection of animals with penicillin and allied drugs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of Antibiotics.
6.
I am aware of certain reports suggesting that the consumption of food containing residues of penicillin or other antibiotics may possibly give rise to antibiotic resistance in man.
Last September I asked my food advisory committee to consider as a matter of priority the problem of antibiotic residues in food, including meat. When I receive the committee's report I shall decide—after consultation with the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries—what steps, if any, are necessary in the public health interest.
Will the Minister state when this report will be made available to him?
I am not able to state that.
Could we expect some action on it this year?
I would not be able to say. It is a highly complicated matter.