Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2015
189. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Irish Greyhound Board's laboratory has accreditation for Stanozolol testing; if not, the reason; when it will receive accreditation; if so, if he will provide an up to date copy of the accreditation certificate to this Deputy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27348/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na gCon is a commercial State body, established in 1958 under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. The sampling of greyhounds for the detection of prohibited substances is a key element of Integrity Management at Bord na gCon. Anabolic steroids such as Stanozolol are not authorised for use within the Irish greyhound industry, stanozolol is a therefore a prohibited substance.
I understand from Bord na gCon that the National Greyhound Laboratory (NGL) has accreditation status from the Irish National Accreditation Board which accredits the NGL to undertake sampling in compliance with the International Standard ISO/IEC 17025.
The National Greyhound Laboratory has flexible scope accreditation. This means the laboratory is in a position to validate and add any prohibited substance to its scope of accreditation at any time. It is not the practice for a racing laboratory to list all substances for which it is accredited.
The National Greyhound Laboratory, including through its relationship with other Laboratory services, provides the capacity to detect the anabolic steroid Stanozolol in samples obtained at licensed greyhound racing stadia. Bord na gCon is confident that these laboratory services, complemented by the use of intelligence lead sampling, can detect the unauthorised administration of Stanozolol to greyhounds where this has occurred. Bord na gCon has advised that it is currently awaiting confirmatory analysis of four samples obtained at licensed Stadia for the prohibited substance Stanozolol.
I understand that Bord na gCon has recently conducted a review of its integrity and regulatory systems under the guidance of Professor Tim Morris (School of Veterinary Medicine & Science, University of Nottingham) with particular emphasis on sampling and analysis for the presence of prohibited substances and medication control issues.
This review is nearing completion and once it is finalised, I expect Bord na gCon to consider its recommendations with a view to identifying any amendments required to legislation, practices or policies to ensure both the advancement of Board na gCon’s commitment to greyhound welfare, and to underpin the integrity of the Irish greyhound industry.
The scope of this review encompasses the capacity of the National Greyhound Testing Laboratory in Limerick, the general adequacy of the equipment used and the levels of testing for prohibited substances. The objective is to ensure that Bord na gCon will conform with best international practice.
I understand from Bord na gCon that in addition to testing samples at the National Greyhound Testing Laboratory in Limerick, it also sends samples for analysis to an appropriate laboratory in the UK as required from time to time.
I commissioned the Indecon report in recognition of the need to review and reform aspects of the greyhound sector, including matters relating to integrity services, and I view it as critically important that its recommendations are implemented, with a view to ensuring that the greyhound industry can reach its full potential and prosper into the future.
