The Irish Veterinary Union's claim that official statistics on brucellosis concealed the level of the disease was "outrageous and irresponsible", the chairman of the IFA animal health committee, Mr Liam Egan, said yesterday .
He said the allegations by the IVU president, Ms Ann Scanlon, came at a time when virtually the whole industry had implemented stringent new measures. The remarks could only damage the reputation of the Irish food industry and consumer markets at home and abroad. Mr Egan rejected Ms Scanlon's allegation that farmers were "more interested in saving money than in tackling the disease."
