Ireland's first testing unit for dioxins - highly carcinogenic chemical compounds - is to be established at the biochemistry department of University College Cork. The Government has confirmed that a grant of €2 million has been made available for the unit.
Prof James Heffron, head of the department, said the work of the new unit would include testing for dioxins in food as well as assessing human risk to dioxin exposure.
The unit's establishment means samples are likely to be scrutinised in Ireland rather than being sent abroad for testing.