Vol. 458 No. 8
168 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to a recent report carried out by the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the United Kingdom which shows a sharp rise in food poisoning due to antibiotics being found in meat and poultry and the fear that new strains of bugs are spreading disease from animals to humans. [17878/95]
181 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to recent reports in the United Kingdom of a sharp rise in food poisoning due to antibiotics being used in animals and new strains of bugs spreading disease from animals to humans. [17877/95]
I propose taking Questions Nos. 168 and 181 together. Both my colleague, the Minister for Health, and I am aware of the reports to which the Deputy refers.
My Department already operates extensive controls on both the availability and use of antibiotics on animals and meat products on farm and at point of slaughter to ensure that these medicines are used only where necessary and to ensure that there is no danger to human health. These controls will be further strengthened by the proposed animal remedies regulations which I will be adopting in the near future.
The use of antibiotics is kept under constant review.
