The NRCP, which is one element of the Department’s overall National Control Plan, tested a total of 19,095 samples from all eight food producing species in Ireland, as well as from milk, eggs and honey. The overall level of positives across all substances was 42, or 0.22%, a level nearly on a par with the levels for 2013 (0.23% or 46/19869) and for 2012 (0.21% or 44/20,580).

The Agriculture Department has a particular focus on laboratory findings that indicate a potential use of banned substances i.e. hormones or other growth promoters prohibited under the EU Hormone Ban (Directive 92/22/EC ) or otherwise banned on public health grounds.

For example, in 2014, the substance Thiouracil, which may indicate the potential use of growth promoters covered by the EU Hormone Ban, was detected in 13 animals in the bovine and farm game sectors. In addition, 2 animals in the bovine sector indicated a presence of ‘SEM’ (semicarbazide), an indicator of the potential use of the banned antibiotic substance nitrofurazone.

However, the Department’s investigations concluded that no illegal administration had taken place and that, given the very low levels found, which are most likely attributable to natural/environmental or dietary factors, there was no risk to public health.

In the case of antibiotic medicines, where testing continues at levels well in excess of those required by EU obligations, the overall positive level across all species in 2014 was 0.1%.

In the bovine, ovine, equine and milk sectors, 10 samples contained residues of anthelmintics (medicines for the control and treatment of parasites) which indicated that specified post-treatment withdrawal periods had not been observed.

Traces of an antibiotic (Chlortetracycline) were found in one sample of honey analysed in late 2014. However, a risk assessment concluded that the level of antibiotic present in the honey did not represent a food safety risk and there was no need to recall the food from the market

In the wild game sector, three samples tested positive for lead. Investigations conducted by the Department concluded that the presence of the residue was most likely due to environmental contamination or as a result of lead bullets used to kill the animals.

Overall, the extensive testing under the NRCP indicates the absence of illegal administration of banned growth promoting hormones and other banned substances to food-producing animals in Ireland. The small number of positives detected related mainly to residues of authorised medicines.