Day 080 - 30 Jan 95 - Page 24


     
     1        When clenbuterol was used in Ireland, it was only a few, a
     2        very few, rogue farmers.  In the context of the total
     3        cattle population of Ireland and the distribution of our
     4        suppliers over Ireland, it is a mathematical probability
     5        that we never would have had any cattle with clenbuterol.
     6        Also, the final part of your question, if there was any
     7        clenbuterol (and I doubt it), as I have said just a few
     8        moment ago, I have read a paper which says that the
     9        distribution and dilution is such that it is not a
    10        problem.  But I cannot -- the whole of my answer is
    11        opinion.  It is not based on fact.  I do not know which
    12        rogue farmers use clenbuterol.
    13
    14   MS. STEEL:   What are the acceptable levels of pesticides and
    15        hormones and things like that, as far as the MAFF are
    16        concerned?
    17        A.  As far as I am aware, nil.
    18
    19   Q.   Nothing?
    20        A.  Nothing on hormones.
    21
    22   Q.   Do you actually know that or is that just what you think?
    23        A.  I know that.
    24
    25   Q.   That is on hormones?
    26        A.  Yes, because all cattle have to -- any cattle that has
    27        been on an antibiotic cannot be released to be killed for
    28        14 days after an antibiotic has been used by a veterinary
    29        officer.
    30
    31   Q.   What about in terms of pesticide residues and things like
    32        that?
    33        A.  Well, as I have said, I think, earlier on, pesticides
    34        do not apply to cattle per se because pesticides are used
    35        on crops.  Cattle -----
    36
    37   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, you have explained that before.
    38        A.  I thought I had, sir, yes.
    39
    40   Q.   Rather, you have given your evidence in relation to that?
    41        A.  Yes, I thought I had, sir.
    42
    43   MS. STEEL:  So do the MAFF actually have specifications about
    44        the levels of pesticide residues in meat or not?
    45        A.  No.
    46
    47   Q.   Do they assume it is not a problem?
    48        A.  Yes.
    49
    50   Q.   So, in fact, do they actually test for it? 
    51        A.  Yes, it is one of the things that is on this large 
    52        result that comes out from MAFF; chemicals of any kind they 
    53        are out looking for.
    54
    55   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Is this a rolling thing with MAFF?  Do they
    56        do it year after year and produce figures?
    57        A.  Yes.
    58
    59   Q.   Or are they one-off surveys?
    60        A.  No, sir, it is an ongoing survey which runs into

Prev Next Index