Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 5

Written Answers. - Beef Imports.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

I take extremely seriously any instance where specified risk material is found in meat irrespective of the origin of the meat. The Deputy's question, I presume, arises from an incident last week where a small amount of spinal cord was discovered in a consignment of 240 bovine quarters imported from Germany.

On that occasion, as part of our routine BSE control measures, veterinary officials of my Department inspected the consignment prior to unloading and detected a 2½ inch section of spinal cord in one of the quarters. The affected quarter was condemned as unfit for human consumption and sent for destruction. The remainder of the consignment was subsequently released for commercial processing having been subjected to thorough examination. The detection of this small piece of spinal cord in a consignment of approximately 20 tonnes of meat effectively demonstrates the level of vigilance exercised by the veterinary inspectors of my Department. I am satisfied that the control measures in place in premises for which my Department has responsibility ensure that meat imported is thoroughly inspected for risk material.