Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has received a report on the importation of contaminated animal feed (details supplied) which was found to contain fragments of bone; if she has satisfied herself with the level of prevention measures to deal with such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1916/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the consignment of maize gluten to which the Deputy refers. This consignment was imported from the USA last November and was found on analysis to contain traces of bone spicules.

I am satisfied that the controls operated by my Department are adequate to ensure that any contamination is detected at the earliest possible stage in the feed chain. My Department takes samples from all bulk consignments of imported animal feed. In the past two years some 7,000 samples were taken in over 1,600 imported consignments, in 90 manufacturing mills and on almost 2,000 farms. Traces of bone spicules were discovered in four of these cases and appropriate action has been taken in all cases.