Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

The European Union has developed its own systems of traceability and animal welfare. The International Office for Animal Diseases sets the veterinary standards for international trade, usually the standards adopted by the World Trade Organisation.

The Minister, Deputy Coughlan, at every forum available to her, has outlined clearly and in particular in the context of the WTO talks that we have additional costs in production because of the very high standards we set. She has indicated we should not be disadvantaged in international trade by having in place a very strong regulatory framework which ensures the food produced in this country is of the utmost and highest standard, of which we can be very proud.

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