Mr. Tom Moran:

There are a number of issues on labelling. There is a commercial issue with cattle being slaughtered in the Republic and then going off to Britain and whether commercially people want to take them as such or take in live exports in the UK and slaughter them in the UK. That is really a matter for the commercial operators in the sector. I know there are some tensions over that and I can understand why.

On the origins of meat, proposals are going through at the moment to extend the beef-origin issues into other meats. The origin of beef and other meats is, if one likes, a departure from the normal Single Market arrangements because if standards are the same throughout the EU, then, as with other products, the origin does not really matter. However, when a product can be reared in one place, finished or fattened in another and slaughtered somewhere else, it gets complicated. What is unusual is that sometimes the origin issue for meat depends more on where it is being sold than where it was produced. It might suit some people to have meat described as Irish, British, Northern Ireland or whatever. It is possible to shine the light in two directions: where it is being sold, which might determine one approach; and where it originates.

From our point of view, origin always relates to the standards, guarantees, safety and quality that apply under the jurisdiction we are in. If we can stand over the product, then there is product. I agree completely that it is not possible to stop borders either within or outside. Product moves; milk, meat and live animals all move. It is a complicated area and it has also regard to where the product is being sold.

I take the point on the forestry. I have just read the paragraph. We might amplify that and send it directly to the-----