9 December 2008
In the light of the recent recall of pork and bacon products following the detection of unacceptable levels of dioxins in a small number of samples, Minister Sargent paid a visit to the Laboratoryof the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Backweston, Celbridge, Co. Kildare. He wanted to inspect results obtained under the Department’s Routine National Residue Monitoring Programme. It was this rigorous testing scheme that first indicated that there might be an issue with some pigmeat.
During the visit, the Minister met with the Director Dr. Michael Gunn and senior members of staff. He was given an overview of the role of the laboratory and the specific roles and responsibilities of each section.
He also received an in-depth briefing on the processes and scientific methodologies used by the staff of the laboratory to support the analysis and risk assessment as part of the management of the pigmeat recall.
The Minister thanked staff members involved in the analysis work for the extraordinary level of commitment and professionalism which they have shown during the recent crisis. He also thanked those involved in developing an innovative improvement of the analysis process at the laboratory, which reduced cycle times and enabled results to be determined much more rapidly.
With Dr. Jim Garvey reviewing the equipment used to detect dioxins
Here the Minister is shown the equipment and scientific methodologies used for detecting the presence of dioxin indicators by Dr. Jim Garvey, Quality Manager at the DAFF Laboratory, Backweston.
Left to Right: Dr. Dan O’Sullivan, Head of the Residues Division, Minister Trevor Sargent, Dr. Jim Garvey, Quality Manager and Dr. Michael Gunn, Director of the Laboratory.
The Minister with Dr. Jim Garvey, Quality Manager, Dr. Dan O’Sullivan, Head of the Residues Division and Dr. Michael Gunn, Director of the Laboratory.
All images courtesy of C.Finn unless otherwise stated.
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