Mr. Tim Drea:

The functions of the feedstuffs division in the Department are covered by the official controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625. It carries out sampling of raw materials and finished products. All feed compounders in the country are obliged to keep samples and have their own HACCP plans in place to prevent or identify these kinds of problems. Would it have found zilpaterol? I cannot say it would have, given the levels it was at. That system is in place. It was really useful when we became aware of the problem because we were able to get the samples of finished product and raw material and run it back to source very fast. The focus of the whole structure is around food and feed safety.