asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps being taken to prevent antibiotic contamination in pigmeat sold to consumers in the Dublin area; if he is satisfied that the monitoring service, if any, is adequately screening such meat.
Written Answers. - Antibiotic Contamination in Pigmeat.
18.
Measures have already been taken to ensure the responsible use of antibiotics in animal husbandry. Regulations introduced by my Department provide for the mandatory observance of withdrawal periods and restrict the availability of these substances to prescription only sales.
The regulations are enforced by authorised officers of my Department who regularly carry out checks to ensure that antibiotics are not on sale through unapproved channels. Samples are taken at slaughterhouses and tested for the presence of antibiotic substances. Veterinary examiners are empowered to condemn as unfit for human consumption, animal carcases which they believe contain undesirable residues.