Michael D. Higgins
Question:72 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps taken to monitor residues of nitrofuran in poultry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8851/03]
Written Answers - Food Safety Standards.
Since mid-2002, under EU safeguard arrangements, Ireland has implemented a sampling programme to test poultry imported from certain third countries for the presence of nitrofurans, which are a group of banned antibiotics. One positive consignment has been detected to date under the programme and the consignment concerned was not allowed to enter the food chain. More recently, as the Deputy is probably aware, nitrofuran residues have been discovered by the Portuguese authorities in domestically produced poultry resulting in the affected farms being restricted.
Arising from this and also linked with the recent development of more effective laboratory methods for the detection of these substances, the European Commission has asked all member states to upgrade their existing monitoring arrangements to the new standard. Arrangements have already been made here to comply with this request by including testing to the upgraded standard in the 2003 national residue plan.