Vol. 472 No. 4
41 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will report on the handling and storage of illegal animal growth promoters seized by his Department; the proposals, if any, he has for the safe disposal of such substances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23380/96]
Illegal growth promoters seized under the Animal Remedies Act, 1993, are now held in a dedicated and secure facility pending disposal. My Department's practice is to tender for disposal of these substances among specialist contractors who then dispose of the material outside the State, in accordance with the relevant legislation governing the disposal of such products. Similar arrangements are used in the storage and disposal of other veterinary medicines seized under the Act. A large quantity of animal remedies were disposed of at the end of 1995 and it is envisaged that further such products will be disposed of during 1997.
The arrangements in place are working satisfactorily and I see no reason to change them.
