The Irish Farmers Journal understands that one of the thousands of random samples tested for chemical residue in animals led inspectors to search the farm last month. The gardaí have confirmed they were involved in a search on a premises that is under ongoing investigation led by the Department of Agriculture.
The Department carries out around 20,000 tests every year on farms, at factories and at knackery yards, more than 4,200 of which are on cattle.
It was after a positive test that “ABP was informed by the Department of a potential issue with a single animal processed at its Clones facility in mid-May from the farm”, as a company statement reported on Sunday. The drug was not initially detected at ABP Clones as previously reported.
Nothing to report at Kepak and Dunbia
Kepak and Dunbia, which operate factories in the same area, both told the Irish Farmers Journal that they were not covered by this investigation.
The latest annual report from the National Residue Control Plan available, for 2014, shows that 42 of the 19,095 animal samples tested showed any form of illegal residue. This takes into account the fact that “most samples (circa 85%) are taken in accordance with criteria designed to target animals or products that are more likely to contain illegal residues”.
Of these, 24 were in cattle, including 12 positive tests for thiouracil, “which may indicate the potential use of growth promoters covered by the EU hormone ban”. However, the Department reported that “investigations concluded that no illegal administration had taken place”.
Clonbuterol in licensed drugs
Clonbuterol, a beta-antagonist drug that acts on breathing and muscle growth, is banned at EU and Irish levels as a growth promoter along with growth hormones.
Six veterinary medicines based on clonbuterol, however, are licensed by the Health Products Regulatory Authority: five for horses, and one, Planipart, to control labour in calving heifers.
Odile Evans contributed reporting for this story