§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's policy on testing calf herds for banned antibiotics; and if he will make a statement. [6314]
§ Mrs. BrowningSamples of calf kidney are tested for the presence of residues of the antibiotic chloramphenicol, which is banned under Council regulation 2377/90/EEC, under the Ministry's non-statutory residues surveillance programme. Thirteen samples were tested in 1995 and 14 have been tested to date in 1996. They were all negative. Samples of cattle kidney are also tested and there was no positive among 41 samples tested in 1995 and 22 tested to date in 1996. Samples of cattle kidney are also tested for chloramphenicol under the Ministry's statutory residues programme. None was positive from the 100 tested in 1995 or the 67 tested to date in 1996.
The results of this surveillance are published in the Veterinary Medicine Directorate's annual report on surveillance for veterinary residues and updated quarterly in its Medicines Act veterinary information service newsletter.