Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 3

Written Answers. - Meat Plants.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

54 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the proposals, if any, he has for a self testing system in meat plants to detect any prohibited substances or residues; if there will be departmental monitoring of the new procedures, having regard to the need to maintain consumer confidence in Irish meat and meat products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22422/99]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Under legislation which I brought into force in 1998, meat plants under EU regulations will, from the beginning of next year, be obliged to carry out programmes of sampling and analysis for residues of prohibited substances and other veterinary medicines. Such programmes require to be approved in advance by my Department. Provision is also made in the legislation for my Department to monitor the operation of the programmes and to have access to the results and records relating to them.

These new arrangements will complement the ongoing extensive official testing and as such provide an increased level of assurance about the safety of Irish food. While there can be no question of these replacing official controls, I consider that appropriately regulated self-monitoring arrangements will provide an additional dimension of food safety and are in the interests of the future development of the Irish food industry.