The former president of the Irish Veterinary Union, Mr Peter Dargan, was yesterday accused of "scaremongering" for claiming at the weekend that a large proportion of Irish farmers were using clenbuterol, the growth promoter known as angel dust.
The president of the Irish Farmers' Association, Mr John Donnelly, said that if Mr Dargan had any evidence to this effect he should give it to the proper authorities or else hold his tongue.
Mr Donnelly said comprehensive tests carried out by the Department of Agriculture showed there had been a dramatic improvement since 1993. An EU survey carried out by the Belgian Consumers Association showed that after Denmark, Ireland used the least hormones in beef production.