Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she intends to review the control and monitoring of chicken imports in view of the recent warning from the Food and Agriculture Organisation that the virus causing bird flu may be impossible to eradicate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6951/05]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds. Migratory waterfowl, most notably wild duck, are the natural reservoir of avian influenza viruses, and these birds are also most resistant to infection. Domestic poultry, including chickens and turkeys, are particularly susceptible to epidemics of rapidly fatal influenza.

Avian influenza viruses rarely affect humans and do not normally infect species other than birds. The virus has on occasion, however, been isolated in humans, and in Vietnam, the H5N1 virus was isolated from a number of patients who died. There is, however, no evidence that the virus can be transmitted from poultry to humans other than by direct contact with infected birds. The risk from poultry meat to humans is negligible as the virus is destroyed during meat maturation, by cooking and by stomach acids.

The conclusion of a three-day conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, which was jointly organised by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations and the World Organisation for Animal Health is that while progress has been made in disease detection and in rapid response to the disease there is need for more vigorous control campaigns in the countries in south-east Asia affected by avian influenza. Extensive publicity campaigns are suggested as well as the principle of segregation of species on family production units. It is hoped that these measures and others will, with the injection of appropriate funding, aid in the reduction in the risk of the spread of the virus to non-avian species and humans in the region.

With effect from 23 January 2004, the European Commission invoked safeguard decisions to control the importation from south-east Asian countries that were approved to trade with the EU.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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My understanding of the FAO report is that this disease will be present for several years in the countries which experienced outbreaks in 2004 and will be impossible to eradicate. It is also the view of the World Health Organisation that it is not a question of whether there will be an outbreak but rather when there will be a pandemic. Human health is primarily at issue, as are the implications for the poultry industry should there be an outbreak here. In this context, does the Minister of State think we have adequate resources in place to deal with inspection and regulation, particularly at border inspection posts?

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The resources are not a difficulty, they are more than adequate. Moreover, all consignments being imported into the EU must first be presented at EU border inspection posts. At the BIPs they undergo a documentary and identity check and the physical checks are carried at frequencies laid down by EU law. Where required, samples for laboratory analysis for the purpose of safeguarding human and animal health is also carried out. Once imported meat has met all the required conditions, it is released for free circulation within the Union.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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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.

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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On a more general note, we are keen to ensure that consumers of poultry meat have the right to the maximum amount of information about the food they are offered for sale so that they can make informed choices. In this regard, a number of regulations have been initiated in the past year and sanctioned by the Department of Agriculture and Food.

I know the Deputy has raised the issue of labelling on a number of occasions. The Minister raised the issue of labelling at EU level during a Council meeting and was supported by her German colleague. I assure the Deputy that the Minister, at every opportunity, raises this issue and is concerned to have in place a proper labelling regime, particularly for poultry which is imported from third countries.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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The issue is not one of labelling but rather one of detection and the procedures which are in place for it. We must have learned a very hard lesson from the foot and mouth disease. At that time there was a knee-jerk reaction whereby all the systems moved to protect Ireland from an outbreak of foot and mouth disease after it had been detected and declared in the UK. We were particularly lucky to escape as we did. We had good systems in place but there was a knee-jerk reaction in response. However, we now have an opportunity to put in place a system in advance. What plans does the Department have for such a system?

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The results of the conference in Vietnam are being evaluated by the European Commission at present and it will report its findings in due course.