Pat Upton
Ceist:161 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the chemicals which his Department has identified as coming under the general heading angel dust.
Written Answers. - Angel Dust.
Pat Upton
Ceist:163 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of animals which tested positive for angel dust; and the total number of animals tested.
Avril Doyle
Ceist:191 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the procedures, if any, that are in place for detecting the use of angel dust or clenbuterol in cattle production; if livers are being tested for evidence; and the extent of the use of angel dust.
"Angel dust" is a non scientific term colloquially used to describe a substance used illegally to promote growth in beef cattle. Considerable seizures of the substances referred to as "angel dust" have been made and in all cases the active ingredient involved was clenbuterol.
A comprehensive range of measures are in place to detect the use of clenbuterol in cattle production. Random monitoring of live animals and meat for the presence of illegal subsances is carried out under an EC approved programme. Additionally, authorised officers inspect and sample live animals and carcases on suspicion that clenbuterol may have been used. Authorised officers have extensive powers to (a) lock up and sample herds where it is suspected that prohibited substances may have been used, (b) to seize and detain for testing animals or meat which are suspected of being illegally treated and (c) to condemn as unfit for human consumption meat derived from animals treated with clenbuterol. The test of live animals is carried out on urine samples and of meat on liver samples.
Of 12,377 animals tested to March 1993 1,108 animals have tested positive for the presence of clenbuterol. Virtually all of the positives were from animals of carcases tested on suspicion.