asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the circumstances in which more than 1,000 cattle which had been injected with illegal doses of hormones were recently discovered in a feed lot of a meat plant; in view of the public concern about these matters, his views on whether other cattle which had been illegally dosed were slaughtered at this plant, and if the contaminated meat has been offered for sale; if so, the measures, if any, he is taking to protect consumers by ensuring that the meat is withdrawn from sale; if, in view of the damage that this incident could do the the image of Irish meat products abroad, he will outline the action it is intended to take against those responsible; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Illegal Implantation of Hormones.
55.
In the course of ongoing checks on the supply and use of substances prohibited under the hormones legislation, prima facie evidence of illegal implantation of hormones in some 400 animals in a feed lot was recently obtained. Movement of the animals concerned has been restricted and inquiries are continuing. Legal action against those responsible is being considered.
There is no evidence of previous abuses of the legislation at the feed lot concerned. The meat plant serviced by it is included in my Department's ongoing programme for the sampling of meat for drug residues. The results to date have been satisfactory.