Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)

Other than the border inspections posts, through which consignments of any product are brought in for trade purposes, there is also a concern in regard to people bringing in personal imports of meat and other products. According to a reply by the Minister to a parliamentary question, up to June 2004, 2,500 tonnes of food was seized and destroyed but no prosecutions were undertaken in respect of the seized personal imports of animal products. Does the Minister of State think there are adequate numbers of inspectors to monitor those imports and what action can be taken? I am recording what is stated by the WHO and the FAO to the effect that it is almost inevitable that there will be a pandemic, with a huge impact on human health and possibly for the poultry industry.

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