Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)

I thank the Minister for the answer to my question. The basis of my question was the laboratories. All evidence available on the FVO reports, the most recent one of which is from 2005, would suggest that the laboratories are anything but competent or proficient in terms of what they are delivering. That underpins every result that comes out of those laboratories. They are not accredited. There is no proficiency testing. Basically, they are not up to speed. I ask the Minister what credibility we can give to results we get from those laboratories?

There has been much debate on imports from Brazil. There is a serious issue for us if we accept test results that come from laboratories which are not proficient and up to standard. For instance, one of the reports stated that the method was not fit for the purpose of confirmation for one of the tests that was carried out. The tests, while they are being done, are fine and I am sure they get a result. In that particular instance the method was not suitable for the tests that were carried out, which therefore negated all the value of the testing done. Will the Minister comment on that and on the proficiency of the laboratories?

See this speech in context