Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 November 2004
5 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the investigations she has carried out arising from the import of animal feed found to be contaminated with bone; her views on this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29497/04]
View answerTwo shipments of sugar beet pulp were imported into Ireland on 18 and 22 October for use as animal feed. Samples of the feed were taken and analysed in accordance with the feeding stuffs control plan of the Department of Agriculture and Food. The samples were found to contain traces of terrestrial animal bone. Some 4,160 tonnes of beet pulp were imported in both shipments from Germany via Rotterdam.
When the Department of Agriculture and Food was notified by the laboratory of the presence of bone of terrestrial animal origin, it immediately started to operate the provisions of its contingency plan for animal feed. It also put in place the provisions of the standard operating procedures for sampling, analysing and following up positive results for processed animal proteins in animal feeding stuffs, which were recently negotiated with the Irish Grain and Feed Association. The procedural strategies helped the Department to notify the trade of the incident quickly. They facilitated an efficient recall process and the speedy collection of the names of farmers who had received any of the affected compound feed. The European Commission was informed of the incident by means of the rapid alert system for food and feed.
The success of the procedures resulted in 96% of the original consignment being detained or recalled to the port stores. The remainder was included in 880 tonnes of animal feed that was sold to 234 farmers. Some 1,770 tonnes of animal feed, significantly in excess of the amount of feed manufactured from the pulp in question, was recalled from the farmers as a precautionary measure. That feed is under detention in dedicated stores. The importers have been asked to submit, for the consideration of the Department of Agriculture and Food, proposals for the disposal of the detained product. The Department and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland analysed the risks involved during their discussions. Given that there was a low level of contamination and an extensive recall of affected material, the Department is satisfied that the danger to human and animal health is negligible in this case.
Earlier today, officials from the Department of Agriculture and Food detained a consignment of maize gluten, intended for use in animal feed, which was imported from the United States. When the consignment was sampled in Ringaskiddy on 15 November last, a positive for bone particles of terrestrial origin was found. The provisions of the contingency plan and the standard operating procedures were brought into force immediately.
This country has invested a great deal of money in ensuring that meat and bonemeal is not used for animal feed. It is doing its best to prevent it from getting into home-produced animal feed. The certain confidence that exists in that regard, apart from a small number of unexplained BSE cases, is to be welcomed. While the recall outlined by the Minister has been successful, a small amount of the product remains in the public domain. The Minister has informed the House that a further consignment of feed with traces of animal bone has been brought into Ireland. Can a system be put in place to ensure that such products are not released into the marketplace before tests on them have been completed? Is it viable or possible to keep such products in storage until a positive result has been received from the laboratory?
The recall system was initiated as soon as possible and every effort was made to trace the affected sugar beet pulp. The Deputy's suggestion that we store the produce until it has been tested is logical, but it is illegal. The House is aware that we have decreased the testing timeframe from two weeks to five days. I have made clear that I intend to reduce it further. I hope problems of this nature will not recur if test results can be made available within 48 hours. It would be an easier way of dealing with the issue. The vigilance of those in charge of the system of importing products has ensured that the possibility of affected products becoming part of the feeding chain has been minimised, to the best of this country's capability.
I appreciate that we cannot impose artificial trade barriers.
Yes.
Given that another consignment that tested positive for bone particles has arrived in this country, it is time to put in place definite and specific measures to deal with this problem. The agriculture industry is being compromised, through no fault of its own, as a result of imports. What sanctions can be applied to the importers or distributors of the animal feed in question? Can the feed be traced further so that those who are responsible for its production face sanctions or penalties?
It has been made clear to me ad infinitum that Ireland has stricter controls than other countries. It is now obvious that it is just as well we do.
Exactly.
As we appreciate that strict controls are of paramount importance, I do not envisage that we will change our modus operandi. The Commission, which was immediately notified of the beet pulp incident, took action in the country of origin. The matter is being dealt with extensively by the Commission. The importers will face a commercial loss because the Government has a policy of not compensating those who import products which are found to have meat and bone particles in them. The loss of their entire consignment will be a sufficient sanction for importers. The Government will not pay for it. These people will receive severe penalties in that way.
I assume that the feedstuffs were brought to this country in good faith. I do not think there is any suggestion that it was a criminal act, because that has not been the case heretofore. The full vigours of criminal law would be invoked if there were such a criminal aspect to the matter. The potential losses to the importers will comprise a sufficient penalty, especially as they will probably face a further battle with those from whom the product was sourced. I assure the House that we will be vigilant in expediting the testing procedures. I hope that process will satisfy Deputy Upton, who has expressed her natural concerns about keeping products in storage while we wait the outcome of tests on them.
