The Health and Safety Authority has strongly rejected claims by the Irish Farmers' Association that it has unwittingly allowed itself to be used to interfere with the flow of imported fertiliser by carrying out checks for licences to carry the material.
Farmers in the south-east reported that they were stopped by joint Garda/HSA roadchecks near ports and advised they would have to have special licences to carry ammonium nitrate.
Fertiliser from outside the EU has been coming into Irish ports in recent weeks and farmers have been buying it well below prices for established brands at quaysides or from agents.
Over the past 18 months, the Irish Fertiliser Manufacturers' Association has been complaining about cheap imports and has alleged that the imports could be more easily converted to terrorist use than traditional brands here.
"Health and Safety Authority (HSA) inspectors are accompanying the gardaí on check points, stopping farmers who are carrying fertiliser to spread on their own lands. This action is particularly focused on imported product which trades at least €30 below established brands," said Mr Tom Dunne, chairman of the IFA's industrial committee.
"It is quite incredible that the Health and Safety Authority would mount this action at this time, without any prior consultation, or any acknowledgement of the serious impact it will have for fertiliser input costs for farmers," said Mr Dunne.
Mr Dunne said while there is an onus on importers to ensure that all products meet reasonable objective standards of quality and safety, farmers firmly believe that the authority has unwittingly allowed itself to be used to interfere with the flow of imported fertiliser product, which undercuts high fertiliser prices from the established trade.
But last night the HSA chief executive, Mr Tom Beegan, said farmers were not being targeted as part of a programme of road checks and there was no plan to specifically target them.
"Further, the regulations do not apply to farmers who transport fertiliser for their personal use," Mr Beegan said.
He said the checks were part of an annual programme of road checks of vehicles transporting dangerous good and was being carried out in accordance with EU legislation. "Ammonium nitrate is a potentially dangerous substance and the authority has a duty to ensure the safety and health of those transporting it and of others who may be affected by such activities."
A total of 650 vehicle checks are planned as part of the authority's work programme for 2004.