Vol. 463 No. 6
268 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will put in place an automated and rapid system of anti and post mortem testing of cattle and meat for harmful residues in the Irish cattle and meat industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7236/96]
A full range of anti and post mortem examinations are carried out at meat export plants with a view to ensuring that Irish beef and beef products are fit for human consumption and free of harmful residues. In addition the programme of Enfer testing, which gives a rapid result by the use of automated techniques, provided a total of 75,771 screening tests for illegal residues during 1995. A total of 84,491 tests for various residues were carried out on farm and in abattoirs as part of programmes for random and targeted testing in 1995.
