Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 8 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 July 2002. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 July 2002 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many gamebirds have been tested for demitradazole in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what proportion of them had unacceptable demitradazole levels. - Inc table. (Holding answer 11 July 2002).

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many game birds have been tested for dimetridazole in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what proportion of them had unacceptable dimetridazole levels. [69025] Mr. Morley: [holding answer 11 July 2002]: No residue of dimetridazole is considered acceptable in a food producing animal. Since 1997 the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has tested 272 samples from game birds. In 1997 dimetridazole residues were detected in four samples. Since then there have been no residues of dimetridazole detected in game birds. The following table sets out these figures in detail. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Number of samples tested Number with dimetridazole residues 1997 120 4 1998 54 0 1999 33 0 2000 33 0 2001 32 0 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information