asked the Minister for Agriculture the tonnage of bacon and pork imported to this country from Holland and Denmark; if the meat is being monitored for nuclear traces; and when the last inspection was carried out.
Written Answers. - Meat Imports.
21.
Imports of bacon and pork from the Netherlands and Denmark did not commence until after 1 October 1985 when Ireland's animal health derogations which applied to fresh meat imports were removed. From that date to the end of March 1986 these imports comprised 18 tonnes of pork from Denmark and 16 tonnes of bacon from the Netherlands.
Since the end of March 1986 only two consignments have been imported, one before the nuclear power disaster in the USSR and the other on 16 May. A sample of the latter is being examined by the Nuclear Energy Board for radioactive contamination.