asked the Minister for Agriculture if it is proposed to introduce reforms and monitoring processes in order to supervise drugs, food additives and chemicals used in livestock production and other foods in order to protect the rights and health of the consumer.
Written Answers. - Supervision of Livestock Food Additives.
337.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave on 10 July to a question about the use of chemicals in livestock rearing and food production generally and about the protection of consumer health in this regard. I pointed out then that, while I have certain control functions regarding chemical pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables and the use of antibiotics in animal production, the question of consumer health protection is primarily a matter for the Minister for Health. Since then, I have announced my intention to make regulations controlling the availability of antibiotics for use in animal husbandry. These are intended to minimise the risk of undesirable residues being found in foodstuffs of animal origin. The farming community is constantly being urged by my Department when using chemical preparations in the course of their work, to respect the manufacturers' instructions with regard to the method of administration and the withdrawal period to be allowed to elapse afterwards.
A certain amount of monitoring of foodstuffs for harmful residues is at present being carried out by my Department and also by the private sector of the food industry, for example, at milk processing plants, and certain EEC legislation now in the pipeline will require an intensification of this activity.