Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 1129: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the practice of unannounced farm inspections including as a priority in the new service charter, that fair and reasonable notice be given for all inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18698/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under EU Regulations governing the Direct Payments Schemes my Department may give up to 14 days notice for land eligibility and cross compliance inspections involving Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) other than those related to animal identification and registration, food, feed and animal welfare. For inspections involving animal identification and registration the maximum notice permitted is 48 hours. For SMRs dealing with food, feed and animal welfare no advance notice is allowed. Where it is permitted to give notice of an inspection, my Department must be satisfied that by giving such notice the purpose of the inspection is not being jeopardised.

The value of these schemes to Irish farmers is €1.8bn annually. Therefore it is incumbent on my Department to ensure that the EU regulatory requirements with regard to inspections, and all other matters, are implemented in full so as to avoid EU disallowances.