Written answers

Tuesday, 22 March 2022

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Departmental Schemes

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1147. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a system whereby the disposal of animal remedy and vaccine bottles can be done in an environmentally friendly manner under cross compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14597/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Cross compliance refers to the system of checks aimed at ensuring the safe production of food, the welfare of animals, the sustainable use of land, the maintenance of natural resources and limiting climate change.

Cross compliance rules include Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) and rules on Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAECs). While there are no specific rules under cross compliance on the disposal of animal remedy and vaccine bottles, SMR 4 requires farmers to provide safe storage and handling of waste and hazardous substances in order to prevent contamination of food while GAEC 3 requires that groundwater is protected against pollution.

Unused animal medicines can be returned to the retailer that supplied them, however animal medicines that are more than 6 months past their expiry date must be disposed of as hazardous waste.

My Department is engaging with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to develop and agree a plan for a suitable national collection scheme in line with the recommendation included in the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027, published last year by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The development and implementation of a national collection scheme for antimicrobials is also listed as a joint action for my Department and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in Ireland’s second national action plan to address antimicrobial resistance, iNAP2.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.