Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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669. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set down the number of cattle in total that have tested positive for clenbuterol, also known as angel dust, in counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2016 to date; how they came to the attention of inspectors; the details of the latest detection; the measures being taken by his Department to reassure farmers and consumers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20627/16]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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671. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set down the number of detections of clenbuterol, angel dust, nationwide in 2016 to date; the counties they have been detected in; how the data compares with the rest of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20646/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 669 and 671 together.

My Department oversees the operation of Ireland’s National Residue Control Programme (NRCP). The NRCP is an extensive surveillance programme aimed at detecting banned substances, such as growth-promoting hormones, residues of authorised veterinary medicines, approved animal feed additives and environmental contaminants in food of animal origin. Under the plan, which is approved each year by the European Commission, tests are conducted of approximately 19,000 samples per annum. Samples are taken both on-farm and at factory/slaughterhouse.

Summary annual reports of the NRCP are available at .

As part of routine testing at farm level under the NRCP, a bovine sample taken from a farm in Co. Monaghan, tested positive for clenbuterol. Subsequently twenty-seven further animals on the holding, a portion of the overall herd, were found to have positive results and were destroyed. As an investigation is on-going, I am constrained from any further comment at this point. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is fully aware of this investigation and has concluded that there is no risk to public health arising thereof.

This is the only confirmed positive case of clenbuterol in Ireland since 2011. The general incidence of clenbuterol findings across Europe is very low with approximately 0.2% - 0.3% of targeted samples testing positive.

As a supplementary measure to the NRCP, my Department will undertake an enhanced testing programme for clenbuterol to provide further reassurance on this matter.