HC Deb 30 January 1992 vol 202 cc664-5W
Mr. Hague

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will announce the results of the further tests for clenbuterol undertaken on meat imported into the United Kingdom from the Irish Republic.

Mr. Maclean

A total of 60 further samples of liver, kidney, muscle and heart taken from farm animals originating from the Irish Republic during the period 1 September—31 December 1991 have been examined for the presence of clenbuterol residues. One bovine sample was found to contain detectable residues of clenbuterol, as follows:

Date of import Tissue Screening Test Confirmatory Test
12 October 1991 Kidney 1.8 u/kg 2.9 u/kg

The screening and confirmatory tests were carried out at the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland (DANI) Veterinary Science Laboratory at Belfast. A further test on the single positive sample was carried out at the MAFF Food Science Laboratory at Norwich, which confirmed DANI's results.