Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 13 Nov 1991

Vol. 412 No. 6

Written Answers. - Illegal Hormones Implants.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

103 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in respect of the discovery of some 400 cattle in the feed lot of a meat firm (details supplied) in County Kildare in December, 1987, which had been implanted with illegal hormones, he will give details of (1) the nature of the hormone identified and in particular if it was clenbuterol or a similar substance (2) the action that was taken against the firm concerned (3) if any prosecution was intitated, and, if so, the date on which the case was heard, the outcome of the prosecution and any penalties imposed (4) the manner in which the cattle were disposed of; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy)

The animals concerned which represented a small number of the cattle in the feed lot referred to, had been treated with the synthetic hormonal substance trenbolone acetate. This substance was marketed as an anabolic steroid under the brand name Finaplix prior to the introduction of the ban on hormonal growth promoters. It is not related to clenbuterol or to other beta-agonists.

Cattle in which the use of hormonal growth promoters was confirmed were surrendered to authorised officers who destroyed the animals and buried the carcases.

A prosecution in respect of 12 individual offences was taken at Carlow District Court on 1 June 1988. The defendant pleaded guilty and was fined a total of £300, £25 on each offence.

The offence took place prior to the introduction of the European Communities (Control of Oestrogenic, Androgenic, Gestagenic and Thyrostatic Substances) Regulations, 1988. Many of the extensive powers and penalties available under this legislation were not applicable in 1987. At the time of the offence the maximum penalty available was £100 fine and-or six months imprisonment.