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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 23 Oct 1985

Vol. 361 No. 1

Written Answers. - Control of Antibiotics.

343.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the measures which have been introduced by his Department to reduce or eliminate the present disturbing level of the use of antibiotics in cattle; if he is aware of the increasing apprehension in the public because of the threat to humans from such antibiotics; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Comprehensive measures have recently been adopted to tighten controls on the availability and use of antibiotics so as to ensure that these substances are used responsibly in animal husbandry and to prevent as far as possible any detrimental residues getting into the food chain. In general the controls provide for restricting the sale of antibiotics to prescription only sales for ensuring that those who administer such products do so in a responsible manner and observe withdrawal periods and for empowering veterinary examiners to check for residues, take samples and reject animals or carcases which may contain detrimental residues.

The new measures will come into force on a phased basis. From 1 November 1985 it will be an offence.

—to sell antibiotic substances which are not properly labelled,

—to sell such substances by mail order or from a travelling shop or vehicle,

—to fail to observe withdrawal periods indicated on labels,

—to sell or slaughter an animal or sell the produce of an animal which contains antibiotic residues of which the seller should have been aware.

Furthermore, the measures will provide with effect from 1 July 1986 that injectable and oral antibiotics may only be administered to an animal by or under direct supervision of a veterinary surgeon or by a person named in a veterinary prescription and, moreover, these substances may only be supplied by a veterinary surgeon or by a pharmacist on the prescription of a veterinary surgeon. In addition to the new measures it should be noted that a scheme introduced in early 1984 in a co-operative effort between the Departments of Agriculture and Health and farming, dairy, veterinary and research interests to monitor and penalise any incidence of antibiotic residues in liquid milk continues to prove very effective.

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