Meat Imports (Hansard, 22 October 1991)

§ Mr. Maclean

In July 1991, traces of clenbuterol were found in a sample of bovine liver imported from the Irish Republic taken as part of the Ministry's routine surveillance arrangements for residues of veterinary medicines in imported meat. As a result of this finding, the Ministry immediately initiated a special survey of bovine muscle, kidney and liver entering the United Kingdom from the Irish Republic.

The results of this survey are now available. A total of 93 samples were obtained between late July and early 506W September. Two samples of bovine kidney and one of bovine muscle were found to contain detectable residues of clenbuterol.

In addition, a total of 66 archived—stored—samples of bovine muscle and kidney originating from the Irish Republic and taken during June 1990 and July 1991 were also examined for the presence of clenbuterol residues. Two kidney samples were found to contain detectable residues of clenbuterol. In this period, no samples of bovine liver, which is the preferred tissue for analysis for clenbuterol, were obtained.

Screening and confirmatory testing of samples was carried out at the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland's—DANI—veterinary science laboratory in Belfast. Details of the positive analyses are set out in the table. Further confirmatory tests on positive samples were carried out at the MAFF food science laboratory, Norwich. These confirmed the presence of clenbuterol in four of the five samples. In one case, insufficent sample was available for confirmatory analysis.

Clenbuterol concentrations in Irish bovine tissues Summary of positive test results
(μg/kg) (parts per billion)
		DANI
Date of import	Tissue	Screen test	Confirmatory test
Fresh meat samples
3 August 1991	Muscle	0.7	5.2
17 August 1991	Kidney	1.1	2.5
17 August 1991	Kidney	>5.5	12.9
Archived samples
2 June 1990	Kidney	>9.0	13.9
28 July 1990	Kidney	1.1	2.6

I have expressed to the Irish Minister of Agriculture, Mr. O'Kennedy, my concern at this evidence of clenbuterol contamination of exports of meat from the Irish Republic. We have also discussed this issue with the Irish authorities at official level. Mr. O'Kennedy has left me in no doubt of the seriousness with which he views this problem, and of his determination to deal with it. Strict controls have been introduced in the Irish Republic on the distribution of veterinary medicines and a major seizure of clenbuterol has been made. Substantially increased penalties for the illegal use of veterinary medicines have been approved by the Government in the Irish Republic and legislation giving more effect to these will be introduced soon. More comprehensive testing for clenbuterol is being introduced at meat plants in the Irish Republic. I welcome these measures as a clear demonstration that the Irish authorities are doing everything they can to stamp out the use of illegal animal medicines.

We are also taking further action in the United Kingdom. A consultation document was issued in July proposing the establishment of statutory maximum residue limits—MRLs—for a range of veterinary medicines, including clenbuterol, under regulations to be made under the Food Safety Act 1990. These will make it an offence to present an animal for slaughter or to sell meat containing residues exceeding the prescribed M RLs. Subject to approval from the EC Commission we plan to bring these regulations into force shortly. At the same 507W time, we are continuing our monitoring of meat imports from the Irish Republic, and we will be maintaining our close liaison with the authorities there.

The Department of Health advise that if humans were to consume meat contaminated with clenbuterol residue the main effects, if any, would be on the heart. If large amounts were ingested, palpitations and increased pulse rate might occur. There is no evidence of any cases of illness in the United Kingdom.