asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps which are taken to determine the level of contamination by pesticides of foodstuffs on sale in this country; the steps he is taking to prevent such contamination in relation to foodstuffs produced in this country; if his attention has been drawn to a recent report produced by the United Kingdom Ministry of Agriculture which suggested that traces of toxic pesticides and chemical residues had been found on a number of products on sale there; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foodstuffs Contamination.
17.
Statutory controls on the maximum level of pesticide residues on a range of foodstuffs for sale in this country are operated under EC regulations. These regulations contain a schedule of pesticides and of the maximum residue levels permitted in the commodities listed.
Officials of my Department regularly inspect and take samples from consignments of both home-grown and imported produce which are subjected to laboratory tests to check conformity with the regulations. The number of samples taken has increased from 453 in 1985 to 1,400 to 30 November 1989. In the event of an excess of pesticide residue being found, there is provision for seizure of the produce or a restriction on further sales from the same origin and/or prosecution of the person engaged in the sale.
I am aware of the report issued by the British Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry publish reports from time to time on pesticide residue levels in food in the UK. The recent report indicates that where residues were found they have been generally low and rarely exceeded international maximum residue levels.
Monitoring in Ireland has also shown that maximum residue levels have very rarely exceeded the European Community's statutory maximum residue limits, which are in line with international levels.
Is the Minister satisfied that the steps being taken to determine the level of contamination by pesticides in foodstuffs are sufficient and that action is being taken where necessary?
Monitoring of pesticide levels is carried out by staff of the Department's pesticide unit by means of routine, random sampling and analysis of foodstuffs. In general it has been found that the residue limits are at or below the levels laid down in the regulations. If I quote some of the statistics it will illustrate the existing position. In 1985, 453 samples were taken and five were over the residue limit; in 1988, 738 samples were taken and eight were above the residue limit; in 1989 — to 30 November — 1,400 samples were taken and six were above the residue limits. The figures reflect what the pesticide unit in the Department are doing.
In relation to the 14 samples in a two year period which had abnormal residue limits, was it necessary to prevent further importation of the products?
The offender was warned and told that if the produce failed the test again it would be seized and destroyed. The offence could also be subject to possible prosecution.
Were the sources monitored?
This is the role of the pesticide unit and it is part of their work in random sampling.
Will the Minister confirm that the Provisional IRA were engaged in the distribution and production of pesticides and hormones in the Border counties?
Surely that is a separate question.