Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Tom Hayes TD, has welcomed changes introduced by Bord na gCon in its control regime.

Welcoming the new Regulations, Minister Hayes, said, “It is critially important to send out a signal that any use of prohibited substances is absolutely unacceptable. I am very pleased that Bord na gCon has taken this significant step to improve transparency and strengthen its regulatory framework. These changes follow a comprehensive review, including a public consultation by Bord na gCon, in relation to all aspects of integrity, including its sampling and analysis procedures for prohibited substances and medication control. It is another critically important step in implementing the Indecon Report and providing a platform for the development of a world class greyhound racing industry that can reach its full potential.”

Under the new regulations, from October 1st 2015 the result of any adverse test for prohibited substances will be published at an earlier stage than previously. This will happen at the conclusion of the analytical phase of the control process, after notice of results has been sent to the parties involved and prior to any hearing by the Greyhound Industry’s Control Committee. The greyhound involved will immediately be prohibited from racing until a further test is undertaken which yields negative results.

The new regulations also require decisions of the Control and the Control Appeals Committees, which adjudicate on possible breaches of regulation, to be published, along with the reasons, for all new cases initiated after October 1st.

View this Press Release as a PDF: DAFMPR 167/2015 (pdf 526Kb) 

Date Released: 28 September 2015