Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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553. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department relies on voluntary reporting by salmon farmers of chemical treatments used for disease control meaning that attention is not being drawn to the type of chemicals being applied to the fish stocks. [26676/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Regulation of the use of veterinarian-prescribed treatment chemicals on salmon farms lies with my Department’s veterinary inspectors.

The supply and use of medicines in Ireland is governed by the Animal Remedies Regulations 2005 (SI No 734/2005, superseded by SI No 786/2007). Treatment chemicals registered for use are prescribed by private veterinarians overseeing stock health on salmon farms.

In accordance with paragraph 34 (a) and (b) of this legislation, veterinarians are obliged to maintain records of chemicals purchased, sold and administered for a period of 5 years. Paragraphs 39 and 40 of this legislation further detail the conditions and requirements to be upheld for the administration of an authorised animal remedy.

In addition, salmon farm operators, under conditions outlined in paragraph 42 of this legislation, are required to maintain records of the animal remedies applied. My Department’s veterinary inspectors review the animal remedy use outlined in these records and confirm whether operators are operating in accordance with the legislation. These inspections are undertaken by veterinary inspectors at the same time as the Fish Health inspections undertaken on behalf of the Marine Institute.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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554. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which organic status can be awarded to salmon farms in view of the fact that his attention has not been drawn to the type of chemicals being used by the operators to control disease. [26677/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The organic status of operators in Ireland is certified by rigorous on-going assessment undertaken on behalf of my Department by designated Organic Control Bodies. My Department is the Competent Authority under EU regulations but has delegated the certification function to independent Organic Control Bodies, in accordance with the relevant EU regulations and in common with the practice in many other countries across the EU. The Organic Control Bodies in question act under formal service agreements with my Department and are themselves subject to audit by my Department, by INAB (the Irish National Accreditation Board) and by the various EU audit authorities.

The Organic Control Bodies implement audit procedures for the certification of organic operators to the regulatory requirements of Council Regulation 834 of 2007 and to the detailed rules in respect of organic aquaculture as set down in Commission Regulation 710/2009. Article 25 of that Regulation provides for the use and control of allopathic treatments which are deemed permissible.

All fish farms are required to have a veterinary health plan in place. This health plan is checked at the annual inspection of each organic operator by their respective Organic Control Body. Furthermore, any veterinary treatments required by fish farms must be approved in advance by the relevant Organic Control Body and a copy of a veterinary prescription must be submitted with each request. Detailed records must be maintained by the organic operator and are verified by the relevant Organic Control Body at inspection stage. All cleaning and disinfection substances are noted at inspection stage by the relevant Organic Control Body who verify that they are in compliance with organic regulations.