The drugs obtained illegally by The Irish Times and smuggled ac ross the Border are legal only when issued by a vet for use on an animal under his or her care or an animal which has been recently examined by a registered vet.
Ventipulmin is a drug used to treat respiratory problems in horses. It contains clenbuterol, known as angel dust, and it is illegal to give it to adult cattle in the Republic or in the North. The drug has been abused in the Republic and in the North by feeding it to cattle to increase their weight by converting fat into lean meat. It is a danger to health, especially people with heart conditions who eat beef in which residues remain.
Colvasone is a cortisone injection but some farmers use it to mask the results of the bovine TB tests. This allows animals who would react to the test and fail to pass, even though they may carry TB. Micotil is one of the strongest antibiotics used by vets. It is so dangerous that an injection of 20 mg in pigs and 30 mg in monkeys has proved fatal.
The bottles bought by The Irish Times carried warnings to avoid self-injection. The warnings also said cattle treated by the drugs must not be slaughtered for at least 28 days after treatment and their use on cows producing milk is banned.