asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of occasions in the past year in which substances prohibited under hormone regulations have been detected in cattle; the number of cattle in which they were detected; the progress which has been made to stamp out this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Detection of Prohibited Substances.
6.
The use of hormonal substances for growth promotion purposes is prohibited throughout the Community. I introduced stringent regulations in September 1988 to meet our obligations under the EC Directives and to consolidate existing legislation in this area.
Over 300 officers are authorised to enforce the regulations. A variety of measures have been adopted for this purpose. These include sampling and examination, both random and on suspicion, of animals on farms, at both ante and post-mortem stages at slaughtering facilities and strict controls on both retail and wholesale veterinary medicine sales outlets. Since the introduction of the regulations the illegal use of hormones has been detected on 98 occasions in a total of 237 cattle. Where animals are found to have been illegally treated with hormones they cannot be used as food for human consumption.
My Department have been engaged in an ongoing campaign against the illegal availability and use of veterinary drugs including hormones. Since January 1987 prosecutions have been brought against 39 persons covering a total of 150 offences involving the illegal sale, possession or use of drugs. The prosecutions were successful in all cases and resulted in the imposition of fines and forfeiture of the drugs involved.
I thank the Minister for his lengthy reply. Would he agree that any discovery of meat contaminated by hormones would be very dangerous and damaging to our image? I know the Minister did state that a number of prosecutions had been brought. Can he say what steps are being taken to stop the illegal sale of hormones and growth promoters?
In the course of my reply I mentioned the number of departmental officers involved in enforcing the regulations. I can tell the Deputy that the number of samples taken runs into thousands. We are alone, within the EC, in applying perhaps the most strict standards of all. I want to assure the House that that will remain the case. Furthermore, when we have any indications of animals infected by hormones we slaughter them. I can assure the House that they will not pass into the human food chain.