Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 3

Written Answers. - Animal Testing.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

26 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has to regulate the tendency by insurance companies to insist that cosmetics, food and other products be repeatedly tested on animals in spite of results from previous tests being available. [22733/96]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

My primary responsibility in relation to the insurance sector is to ensure that authorised insurers adhere to statutory reserve and solvency requirements.

The supervision, licensing and veterinary aspects of animal testing procedures comes within the remit of my colleagues, the Ministers for Health, Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the Marine. The Deputy may wish to contact the appropriate Department should he have evidence of infringements of animal welfare legislation.