Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy should know the difference between beef and a wee bit of poultry. However, I know what he is saying.

On the food labelling issue in general, I emphasise that my primary aim is to protect consumer interests and to ensure the consumer is properly informed. Ireland is a major exporter of food and food products and there is a considerable volume of imports. Therefore, it is imperative that the same standards are applied to the labelling of foods in every sector and that a level playing field exists for the entire food industry, with which all Deputies must agree. It is fair to say there has been significant progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the food labelling group. The group made 21 recommendations, the status of which are as follows: 12 have been implemented in full; one other is completed in full, except for a small element in regard to giving the breakdown of species in food with a meat content in the food services sector; five fall to be implemented by the FSAI, which is in the process of developing its systems and operations to ensure the implementation of these recommendations; and one recommendation in regard to a public awareness campaign on food labelling is being addressed by Safefood, the food safety promotion board.

The remaining two recommendations relate to the issue of origin of meat. Legislation covering the beef sector was already in place for retail outlets and similar measures were adopted for poultry. My Department and the Department of Health and Children are examining the legislative measures necessary to extend these regulations to sheep meat and pig meat. Both Departments are also exploring the necessary measures for extending the requirement to indicate the origin of all meat in the food service sector.

Given our export focus on food, no effort is spared by the Government. My Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Bord Bia support the industry in its endeavours to find and expand export markets. We have been hugely successful in this regard. For example, the position in respect of beef speaks volumes. We have made enormous strides in consolidating our position as a major supplier of quality beef to the EU retail market. This applies across all product areas.

As the House is aware, I led a delegation of food and drink industry representatives to China as part of a wider trade mission led by the Taoiseach. In the course of my visit, I signed a pig meat protocol with the Minister for the Administration of Quality, Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine that will form the basis on which pig meat products from Ireland will be exported to China. This formal agreement will provide a framework within which actual trade in pig meat products will commence later in the year.

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