Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Oct 1992

Vol. 423 No. 4

Written Answers. - Disposal of Carcase.

Theresa Ahearn

Question:

177 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary, was not informed that an animal was condemned at Clonmel Chilling and sent to the skip; the reason queries raised by this person were not answered; if denying the farmer an opportunity to defend the case was within the rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

Post mortem inspection of the animal in question revealed an injection site and the carcase was detained pending investigation. A sample was taken and was tested at my Department's Central Meat Control Laboratory.

Analysis revealed levels of an antibiotic of the tetracycline group exceeding the levels set-down in Commission Regulation 675/92. As required by the European Communities (Control of Veterinary Medicinal Products and their Residues) Regulations, 1988 and 1990, this finding required that the veterinary inspector deem the carcase to be unfit for human consumption. When the supplier became aware of the positive finding it was queried with the veterinary inspector, who confirmed the positive result with the laboratory. The factory management was informed that the carcase had been deemed unfit for human consumption. It was then denatured and subsequently sent to the skip, thus removing it from the food chain.

An interim reply was issued to the queries raised and a more comprehensive reply will be issued shortly.