Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 517: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the procedures which are in place to test animal feed for genetically modified content. [19020/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Each year, as part of its control plan, the Department of Agriculture and Food prepares an annual inspection programme detailing the number and category of feed samples to be drawn for analysis. With the coming into force in April 2004 of EU Regulation 1829/2003/EC, requiring member states to carry out the appropriate controls to ensure compliance with GM labelling requirements for food and feed, the Department of Agriculture and Food added such controls to their annual inspection programme in respect of animal feed. Sampling and analysis is targeted at whole seeds and by-products of commercially available genetically modified organisms, that is, soya bean, oilseed rape, maize, cotton and compound feed containing such products. Samples are sent to the State Laboratory for analysis and follow up action is taken where required.