Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Consumers have an absolute right to know the origin of meat and all food products offered for sale. EU beef labelling regulations have been in place for some time. These regulations require the listing on the label of the place of birth, rearing and slaughter of the animals from which the beef has been derived. In the past, the scope of the regulations applied only to the retailer. Last year, the Minister for Health and Children introduced primary legislation providing for the country of origin of beef to be displayed in restaurants and other catering establishments. Deputies may have seen some of the literature produced by the Food Safety Authority in line with that legislation, advice for caterers and country of origin of beef labelling requirements.

Since my appointment I have had a number of meetings with my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher, who has responsibility for food safety, about how our two Departments can improve the enforcement of labelling legislation. For example, we are working on a wider public awareness campaign to alert customers, restaurants and the public at large on how to be active and informed advocates for full factual labelling, especially for beef.

Under that legislation, it is proposed to extend the labelling requirements to other meats and meat products. These new regulations would require the country of origin of all meat to be displayed on the label. In the proposed legislation "origin" will be defined as the country where the animal was reared and, if different, the country of slaughter.

This will have to be indicated on meat products containing over 70% meat. Regardless of the nature, extent or location of processing or packaging that has gone into the manufacture of the product the requirement to show actual country of rearing and slaughter of the animal will remain in place and this will not be superseded by any "substantial transformation" rules. These regulations will be introduced as quickly as possible but this can only be done with the approval of the European Commission. I share the frustration of Deputies in that matter. The requirement awaiting the Commission's approval will impose a minimum of three months' delay in finalising the legislation.

The possibility of a "Green Island" label has been raised during this debate. Ba bhreá liom a leithéad de lipéad a fháil, a fheiceáil agus a chuir i bhfeidhm. While I am committed to promoting Irish food in every way possible, and while I have been doing so when travelling throughout Ireland and Europe since my appointment, for example, to Anuga in Cologne recently, we must all operate within EU law, and within the Single Market rules. According to the European Court, any buy Irish-type scheme cannot be funded by taxpayers' money. However, we do encourage any privately funded scheme which would highlight the origin of Irish produce. We are talking to the restaurants association and other bodies that can help in that regard.

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