Vol. 498 No. 5
51 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his position in relation to the EU proposals to ban the use of certain antibiotics in the manufacturing of animal feedstuffs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27771/98]
Ireland supports the EU Commission's proposal to apply the precautionary principle on the use of four antibiotics currently used in animal nutrition. This effectively allows for a temporary ban of these substances pending full scientific evaluation at community level. The basis for the proposal is that these particular antibiotics may be important in human and animal therapy and prolonged exposure through their continued use as feed additives could lead to the development of resistance in humans. The Council of Agriculture Ministers adopted the Commission proposal this week.
