Bernard Allen
Ceist:341 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he monitors the health impact of environmental hazards such as pesticides and genetically engineered crops. [11952/01]
Written Answers - Environmental Hazards.
I am advised that the use of specific chemicals as pesticides has increased in recent years. Pesticides are used mainly for cereals, field crops and horticultural crops. Monitoring of pesticide residues in food is carried out by specialist laboratories of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. That Department's pesticide control service undertakes detailed sampling and analysis of foodstuffs to ensure compliance with maximum residue levels laid down under EU legislation. The Environmental Protection Agency also carries out some monitoring of dioxin levels in cows milk. Dioxins are chemical by-products, a number of which can be toxic to humans.
With regard to genetically modified crops, the implementation of EU directives and national regulations are the responsibility of the Department of the Environment and Local Government and the Environmental Protection Agency. The fundamental objective of these directives and regulations is the protection of people and the environment and the EPA is the competent national authority for the purposes of ensuring compliance with these regulations. The EPA is also involved in developing a research programme on safety issues in relation to the release of genetically modified organisms to the environment.