asked the Minister for Agriculture if he intends to take any action on the recent report on antibiotics carried out by Dr. F. Austin, UCD, especially to ensure that farmers are protected by more stringent Government control of drugs being sold to them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Antibiotics Report.
10.
My Department has for some time past been examining measures aimed at controlling the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry and in the treatment of livestock diseases. These will be discussed with the farming, professional and trade interests concerned before decisions are finally taken.
My Department are also participating in the drafting of EEC Council directives on the control of veterinary medicinal products, including antibiotics, and the standardisation of the conditions under which they are produced and sold.
Would the Minister not agree that it is desirable that the presence of antibiotics in milk products be reduced to a minimum not only from the point of view of public health but also from the industrial point of view as the presence of these antibiotics interferes with the staphycultures in the manufacture of cheese and yoghurts? As we are a major exporting country we have to comply with the stringent regulations laid down in the international field. Would he not instruct his Department to issue instructions to firms manufacturing these drugs? I understand there are at least 30 such firms and they should be compelled to label their products indicating what organism causes the disease——
This is a very long question.
——the proper dose, frequency and these should be clearly labelled on each drug.
I agree with most of what was contained in the Deputy's speech. It is true that the less use that is made of antibiotics, especially in the hands of lay men, the better. It is also true that the control of epizootic diseases like mastitis sometimes requires the use of antibiotic preparations to be in the hands of herd owners. I am as aware as the Deputy is of the difficulties encountered in the matter of inhibitors in the manufacture of cheese. Deputy Griffin is probably also aware, since his question was more informative than otherwise, that the creamery societies are now penalising fairly heavily for the presence of inhibitors in milk samples. That penalty will be effective in that specific area.
In my opinion it is necessary that users of antibiotics in agriculture should be informed as fully as possible as to the manner of use and the contents of the active ingredients. I discussed that matter this morning with the people from the farming organisations and we will be having further conversations about this at official level.
I will be very pleased to keep the Minister fully informed.