Vol. 472 No. 4
34 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to withhold EU grants from any farmers found guilty of using illegal growth promoters or other illegal substances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23018/96]
The position is that Council Regulation (EC) No. 894/96, which came into force on 1 July 1996 provides for the exclusion from the various bovine headage and premium schemes of certain producers found to be in breach of the EU regulations relating to hormones and beta-agonists. These regulations provide for the exclusion of producers from these schemes for one calendar year in the case of a first offence and for a period of up to five years in the event of any subsequent offence.
Since July 1996, seven farmers have been found to be in breach of these regulations and consequently payments under the 1996 bovine headage and premia schemes will be refused in these cases.
