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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 4

Written Answers. - Animal Remedies.

Billy Timmins

Question:

150 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his Department will reconsider issuing a separate blue hard covered book purely for recording animal remedies, as provided for in Regulation 42(2)(a) of the Animal Remedies Regulations, 1996, free of charge; if he will notify farmers of the locations at which they may apply for such notebooks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7014/02]

Regulation 42 of the Animal Remedies Regulations, 1996, imposes a legal obligation on farmers, or other persons in charge of animals, to maintain an animal remedies record in a format specified under the regulations. This record of all administrations to food-producing animals of veterinary medicines which are either subject to a veterinary prescription or have a withdrawal period, constitutes an important element of the overall controls on the use of veterinary medicines and is particularly necessary in facilitating controls designed to ensure that specified withdrawal periods are observed.

It is primarily a matter for farmers, or others in charge of animals, to maintain the animal remedies record in the manner specified. In order purely to facilitate farmers in the bovine sector in meeting their legal obligations, it was decided to avail of the opportunity afforded by the issue of herd registers to include a section for recording veterinary treatments in the specified manner. This was not done in any other sector and was never intended to set a precedent in the bovine sector itself. It is not, therefore, intended to issue replacements.

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