Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 6

Written Answers. - Illegal Growth Promoters.

Mary Harney

Question:

15 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the amendments, if any, he considers are necessary to strengthen the law on illegal growth promoters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13777/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

The Animal Remedies Act, 1993, and regulations made thereunder provide a comprehensive basis for the enforcement of the law prohibiting the use of growth promoters and other illegal substances. The enforcement powers available to authorised officers under the Act are the most stringent in the European Union. I am satisfied that these provisions as they stand are adequate.

The penalties for breaches of the Act are very severe. The courts may impose:

—on summary conviction, a fine of up to £1,000 or imprisonment for up to 12 months or both;

—on conviction of indictment, a fine of up to £100,000 (or, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, £250,000) or imprisonment for up to ten years, or both.

In addition, the court may order the forfeiture of an animal or animal remedy to which an offence relates. The courts may also ban a person who has been convicted on indictment from keeping animals, animal remedies or being engaged in the production of food for human or animal consumption. The duration of such a ban is the discretion of the court and may be for life. Nevertheless, I am considering a legislative amendment whereby, a farmer would, as a statutory consequence of conviction for a serious offence, be banned from farming. Such a disqualification is being considered given the serious consequence of the illegal use of growth promotion. Protection of the food chain is the shared responsibility of producers and processors. In order to reinforce this responsibility, I am also considering an amendment to the legislation to provide for the regular publication of the results including the source of the sample, of testing carried out by my Department.