asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the widespread publicity given to the matter and the possible adverse effects on the dairying industry, he will state clearly in the public interest that he is satisfied that the antibiotic residues found in milk supplies in a number of County Cork dairies do not in any way constitute a health hazard.
Private Notice Questions. - Antibiotic Residues in Milk.
asked the Minister for Health the action he now proposes to take to protect public health bearing in mind: (a) the urgent concern arising out of the recent controversy surrounding the publication of the Southern Health Board survey showing a dangerous incidence of antibiotic residues in milk; and (b) the publicly stated anxiety by leading members of the medical profession as to the increased failure of antibiotics in treating hospital patients.
I propose to take both questions together. The existence of any antibiotic residue in milk is most unsatisfactory from a public health viewpoint. The aim must be to eliminate all such residues. The Minister for Agriculture and I are taking action to achieve that objective.
The main concern is with antibiotic residues in milk. Returns to the Department of Agriculture at the end of last year suggested that up to 19 per cent of liquid milk contained antibiotic residues. Incidence of residues in milk for manufacturing purposes is significantly lower due to the more extensive use of testing and penalties. Earlier this year the western health region analyst for three health board areas reported that up to seven of every ten samples of liquid milk contained residues. The Southern Health Board decided to undertake a similar survey. Their findings on pasteurised milk were 25 per cent in north Cork, 20 per cent in Kerry, 17 per cent in the north Lee, 8 per cent in west Cork and 3 per cent in the south Lee.
As a consequence, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health established a representative group of both Departments and the different interests in the liquid milk industry. Arrangements were made to deal with the problem of excessive residues in milk. Since the establishment of the group there has been a greater awareness in the liquid milk trade of the dangers, and a considerable improvement has now been achieved.
For example, in the western region only one in every ten samples of milk analysed now contains antibiotic residues compared with seven out of every ten last year. In Kerry an educational campaign on the use of antibiotics on milch cows is considered to have contributed to a marked reduction in the levels of residues from 20 per cent in 1982 to 3 per cent in the first half of 1983.
The Minister for Agriculture intends to introduce other measures. Recent reports from the Southern Health Board are being examined. I expect to receive a report in the near future from a subcommittee of the Food Advisory Committee who have been examining the whole question of antibiotic residues. I understand they will be making specific recommendations to me and, in due course, I shall have them examined and, where appropriate, implemented as a matter of urgency.
I am not sure whether the Minister said it constitutes a health hazard. I should like the Minister to say whether it constitutes a health hazard and, if so, is he satisfied to await the report? Will he not take action in the meantime?
On the basis of the medical and expert advice available to me I am satisfied that without question it is highly undesirable that there should be any antibiotic residues in milk and dairy products from a public health point of view. There are problems and, as a medical doctor, I am sure the Deputy is aware of them. We aim to eliminate all such residues as quickly as possible. I regard the situation in 1983 as highly unsatisfactory. A strong statement issued in the past few days by the Minister for Agriculture indicates his concern. There are other areas to be considered such as residues of hormonal growth factors in other products about which we will have to take more stringent action particularly in hormonal areas relating to pigs, poultry, beef, and so on. There is a need for more definite action.
Does the Minister intend to introduce legislation?
I introduced regulations in 1983 under the Poisons Regulations. These will come into force. The Minister for Agriculture is also reviewing the situation in relation to penalties. The Food Advisory Committee have been asked to review this matter and when I receive a report in a few weeks time I will consider making specific recommendations. I must confess that as incoming Minister I found that the Poisons Council had not been reconstituted for several years, including the time Deputy Haughey was Minister. It was not there at all. That is now being reconstituted.
It is a good job the Minister got back from China to make that snide remark.
The Deputy left it in quite a state.
Did the Minister have acupuncture while he was there?
The Government reconstituted the Poisons Council several months ago.
The Minister should get on with his job and stop playing politics.
I am totally dissatisfied with the Minister's lack of urgency in this regard. Accepting that this is an issue on which we all have to be careful not to make alarming statements, it is important and urgent that the Minister should introduce legislation similar to the legislation which is in effect in virtually every other European country. In the United Kingdom there is a 1968 Medicines Act which the Minister could look at.
A question please, Deputy.
This has been going on for too long. The Minister should bring in that legislation now and not wait for the reports of further sub-committees. This problem has been around for a long time. Would the Minister accept that it would be in the interests of the farmers, of the dairies and the consumers to have immediate legislation? Whatever became of the EEC directives in this whole area which were to be implemented in Ireland by the end of September 1983 to deal comprehensively and fully with this whole area of contamination in milk? Those directives have not been met by this Government. There is no control and no legislation in this area. Rather than waiting for more reports, the Minister should reassure the public and introduce legislation now.
The Minister for Agriculture and I have been most active in this area over the past 12 months. I found an undesirable situation when I took office. Regulations will be introduced and are being introduced, and the date of implementation is January. There are currently three draft regulations on hand, the animal remedies regulation, the Poisons Act and the Agricultural Produce Act of 1930. Under these Acts the controls will restrict the sale of hormones and certain antibiotics to prescription sale only. Under the Poisons Act I have already taken action in certain areas. Secondly, they would ensure that those who administer those products do so in a responsible manner and observe withdrawal periods. Thirdly, the regulations will empower veterinary examiners in export plants to check the residues, take samples and reject carcases if necessary. These regulations are coming into force in January and I can assure Deputies that, although our EEC colleagues may have some concern in that regard, as regards dairy products the antibiotic residues are no problem in the manufacturing milk side. In the national interest, that should be made very clear. We are talking here about the other liquid milk areas and the beef, pig and poultry areas where we are acting jointly and quite speedily in that regard.
A final supplementary question, please?
I shall give Seamus Brennan a final supplementary. I sense now another interest which extends all over the country anxious to get in on this discussion. This is not a suitable forum for the discussion which it is sought to have, as these questions are down to the Minister for Health. I shall allow a final supplementary to Deputy Brennan and shall pass on then to the Order of Business.
I ask the Minister straight, is he aware and does he admit that this whole area is totally uncontrolled here? It has not any real legislative base. Will he confirm to this House today that comprehensive legislation will be brought into the House soon and that he will not deal with it in a semi-back door fashion by diddling around with regulations?
I can assure the Deputy that under existing Statutes there are quite adequate statutory powers open to the Minister for Agriculture, myself and the other two Ministers concerned.
Has that happened?
There are four Departments involved. We have adequate powers and are making use of those powers and implementing the regulations——
They are not working.
——in a very definite way. They are working. We are determined from 1 January next when the regulations come into operation that they will be in full force.
There is a figure of 17 per cent.
A Cheann Comhairle——
I am sorry, Deputy——
This is not on that question at all.
We will have the Order of Business now. If your supplementary is not on that question, it is not in order.
I had a Private Notice Question down today for the Minister for Industry and Energy.
I ruled on that. If Deputy McEllistrim will come to my office, which is now more convenient than it was, I will be very anxious to see him.
This is about the closing of a factory in Tralee where the workers have been given a month's protective notice. My question was ruled out of order.
If the Deputy comes to my office, we will have a talk about it. We will now come to the Order of Business.