§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tests have been carried out to establish whether therapeutic medicants used in animal feedingstuffs show up in the flesh and offal of animals destined for human consumption; what are the results of these tests; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanMy Department carries out extensive monitoring of residues of veterinary medicines, including therapeutic substances administered in animal feed; 40,000 samples are taken annually at randomly selected slaughterhouses and farms and are subject to screening tests and confirmatory analysis where residues are suspected. In 1989, 97 per cent. of samples analysed for anti-microbial substances passed these tests. In the remaining cases follow-up action was taken with the farms of origin.