Vol. 498 No. 5
145 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the existing procedures available to deter the use of growth promoters in animals; if any enhancement or other changes are proposed in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28117/98]
The legal basis for the ban on the use of hormonal substances and beta-agonists as growth promoters in animal production is founded in European Union directives. Under relevant national legislation, the Animal Remedies Act, 1993, severe penalties may be imposed by the courts for breaches of the law in this area. On summary conviction, fines of up to £1,000 and-or imprisonment for up to one year may be imposed; on conviction on indictment, a fine of up to £100,000, or in the case of a second or subsequent offence, £250,000, and-or imprisonment for up to ten years may be imposed. In addition, the court may order the forfeiture of an animal or animal remedy involved in an offence. Furthermore, a court may ban a person who has been convicted on indictment from holding animals or animal remedies; the duration of such a ban is at the discretion of the court.
Since 1 July 1996 where an illegal growth promoter is found on a farmers premises or where a residue is found in an animal, the farmer is deemed ineligible for bovine headage or premia payments for a period of one year. In the case of a repeated infringement, the period may be for up to five years.
This legislation is enforced vigorously in the interests of public health and the reputation of agriculture industry by the Department's staff in meat processing plants and district veterinary offices as well as by the special investigation unit of my Department. My Department also co-operates closely with the Garda Síochána in this area.
In the past two years over 100 persons have been convicted of breaches of veterinary medicines legislation; fines in excess of £330,000 have been imposed by the courts and 41 persons have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment and 25 of these sentences were suspended.
Results of testing for residues of veterinary medicines has, over the past few years, shown a substantial and welcome decline in the use of growth promoters from a positive level in excess of 4 per cent in 1993 to 0.06 per cent in the first six months of 1998.
