Call for tough penalties for product misuse
The Animal and Plant Health Association, which represents manufacturers and distributors of animal health and plant health products in Ireland, made the call.
It also supported the continuation of monitoring of animal medicines by the Department of Agriculture and Food to protect the industry and the consumer.
But, with the European Commission proposing that all medicines for food-producing animals be subject to veterinary prescription, it also urged the department to fight for the right of EU member states to determine the most effective distribution of products.
APHA director Declan O’Brien said the discovery of imported poultry meat contaminated with antibiotic residues reflected negatively on the industry.
An APHA survey found about 60 million was spent to ensure an animal health product was safe for animals and consumers before approval.
“If a product is used incorrectly in some manner, including non-compliance with the withdrawal period, the result can be a food scare,” Mr O’Brien said.
“To protect the industry and consumer, we fully support the continuation of a very robust monitoring programme by the department.”
He said that during the year 2000, more than 91,000 samples were taken to determine the presence of illegal residues in eleven food-producing species.
Only 0.7% tested positive for antibiotic residues, with just one positive result in 1,801 samples of poultry meat.
Mr O’Brien was speaking at the launch of APHA’s Veterinary Compendium, compiled for use in the Irish animal health market.
