Ms Sinéad McPhillips:

As I have said to other members, there is a distinction between the SPS food safety standards, which are a prerequisite for any food entering the EU - the Commission has committed to further audit and inspection on those - and then the environmental and animal welfare standards, as the Deputy has mentioned, which are different in the EU and are higher in the EU than in other countries. The Commission has included certain reassurances in its proposals and those additional assurances are currently being examined by our Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.