Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 4

Written Answers. - Poultrymeat Production.

John Bruton

Question:

113 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if there is any connection in his opinion, between the increase on food poisoning involving poultry products and the modern methods of rearing of poultry in large units, using antibiotics to combat diseases inherent in such rearing conditions. [14498/01]

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

I am not aware of any link between poultry rearing methods and food poisoning.

There is a body of EU legislation in force in this country governing the production of poultrymeat. A primary objective of this legislation is protection of public health. As far as food poisoning is concerned, the correct handling and storage of product after slaughter, i.e. at the processing, marketing and catering stages and in the home, are of the utmost importance.

Antibiotics to combat poultry diseases must be approved in accordance with a strict statutory regime which,inter alia, takes account of the safety of the product from the point of view of human health. Under this regime, mandatory withdrawal periods are defined in respect of each product in order to protect consumers from harmful levels of residues. In addition, the rules in Ireland governing the prescription of antibiotic therapies are among the strictest in the EU. Furthermore, testing carried out under my Department's residues monitoring programme indicates that there is a very high level of compliance with regulatory requirements in this area.