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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 May 1986

Vol. 366 No. 9

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Vegetable and Livestock Testing.

10.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will outline the procedures and systems in place, under his aegis, to deal with the testing of vegetables and livestock for chemical additives, radiation and substances likely to be injurious to good health; and if he will state how these services were deployed during the last month since the Soviet unclear power sation disaster; and to what effect.

Officers of my Department take samples of fruit and vegetables for subsequent analysis at the Department's Pesticides Laboratory. Samples of meat taken at point of slaughter, at wholesale level and at point of import are tested for pesticide residues and for Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Polybrominated Biphenyls.

If you met them on a dark night they would be dangerous.

Regulations introduced in November last restrict the sale and use of hormones and make it an offence to slaughter livestock or to offer livestock or meat for sale which contain residues. Veterinary inspectors of my Department enforce the regulations and their powers to examine meat and take samples for residue testing have been extended for this purpose. Such testing is now being undertaken on a regular basis at the new Meat Testing Laboratory at Abbotstown. The provision of these services by my Department has not been affected by the Soviet nuclear power station disaster and its aftermath.

Food additives are a matter for the Minister for Health while testing for radiation levels is a matter for the Nuclear Energy Board under the aegis of the Minister for Energy.

I should like the Minister to elaborate a little on his reply. He spoke about samples taken by inspectors from his Department. Will he give the House some indication of how often this occurs? For instance, how many samples have been taken in the past two or three months? Secondly, will he make a comment about what I understand to be a total lack of checking in relation to certain pesticides and chemical sprays used on vegetables, including lettuce? Apparently people can put such produce on sale immediately after spraying even though the conditions governing the use of the chemicals state that such produce should not be consumed within weeks of spraying.

The Deputy is making a speech.

My question referred to vegetables. Will the Minister give me the information I requested with regard to samples taken and will he deal with what appears to be a weakness in the control of sprays on some vegetables.

With regard to meat, the Deputy can be assured it is checked on a daily basis. If a particular area or plant is suspect we check what is happening until we are sure that everything is all right. With regard to horticultural produce generally, quite a range of chemicals have properties whose effects continue for days but dangerous chemicals such as DDT and other substances have been taken off the market. The Deputy can be fully reassured when he eats lettuce that it is quite safe.

I am not suggesting that dangerous chemicals are being used. I am simply saying that for some chemical sprays there is a requirement that the foodstuffs should not be consumed within a fortnight of spraying. However, there is no mechanism to ensure that this is done. In the past I have been aware of cases where people sprayed lettuce and sold it immediately——

The Deputy is giving information, not requesting it.

I am trying to ask a question that is very important. I should be grateful if the Minister would comment on it.

My response is that the Department consider every aspect, as do the Department of Health who have primary responsibility. I am sure those who are growing lettuce for sale are competent and I would be very surprised if they offered their produce to the public if it was not in a good condition.

Will the Minister state——

There are other people who have questions down. The Deputy is intervening in every question and he is encroaching on the time of other Deputies who have tabled questions. I am calling Question No. 11.

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