asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is satisfied with the standard of antibiotics and other animal medicines being supplied by the wholesale trade to veterinarians and farmers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Animal Medicines.
4.
My Department have had no complaints which would indicate that the general standard of antibiotics and other animal remedies being supplied by the wholesale trade to veterinarians and farmers is unsatisfactory. If the Deputy has any information to the contrary he should pass it on to my Department for investigation.
Have the Department carried out any research into the standards of these antibiotics and other medicines?
If there was anxiety in this regard I am sure that complaints would be made to the Department but no such complaints have been received.
I am aware that some veterinarians have had samples tested at the veterinary college and that these were found not to be up to standard in many cases and, in other cases, were out of date.
It is surprising that these complaints have not reached the Department.
They are reaching the Department now.
Is the Minister aware that the veterinary union have sent supplies of animal drugs to the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards following private tests of their own which showed that the contents of bottles were not in accordance with what was indicated on the labels and that the veterinary profession did this as a result of their observance of the fact that cattle were not reacting to treatment?
I am not so aware. My information is that in the main these products are supplied by reputable firms and that there is no difficulty in regard to them.
Would the Minister be good enough to have some member of his Department get in touch with the veterinary union for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is any substance in what I am saying?
Yes, but I am surprised that if what the Deputy is saying is true, the veterinary union have not been in touch with the Department.