Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jan 1998

Vol. 486 No. 1

Written Answers. - Beef Imports.

John Bruton

Question:

418 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the United States Government has imposed a ban on importation of beef from Ireland due to BSE; and the steps, if any, that he is taking regarding the matter by representations to the United States Government and to the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. [1385/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh):

In the Federal Register of 6 January 1998 the United States of America published a decision prohibiting the importation of beef from Europe, including all member states of the EU.

The response of the European Union as a whole is being co-ordinated by the EU Commission. My Department has also responded directly with a detailed memorandum to the US authorities setting out the facts relating to the low incidence of BSE in Ireland and the nature of our control and eradication programme.