Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to help producers here compete against the deluge of imported foods that do not have to meet the same high quality standards that Irish food has to reach and is therefore available at much cheaper prices; and when she intends to introduce the country of origin labelling that was promised, upon which the livelihood of many of our food producers depend. [34378/05]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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There are EU harmonised rules in place that govern the importation of animal products to minimise any risks that might be associated with trade with third countries. It is a general requirement that animal products imported in the European Union from third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in and trade between EU member states. All meat imports must therefore come from third countries or areas of third countries approved for export to the EU. The Food and Veterinary Office of the EU carries out audits of the controls in place in third countries.

The FVO carries out inspections to ensure that only establishments that meet hygiene and health standards equivalent to those operating within the EU are approved. Exporting establishments must have standards equivalent to the requirements for EU export establishments, effective control systems and supervision by the competent authorities and traceability and labelling in accordance with systems approved by the FVO.

Where there are concerns with regard to the effectiveness of controls being operated in an approved third country, the EU Commission, in consultation with the standing committee on animal health and the food chain, may introduce specific controls by means of a safeguard measure to ensure the protection of human and animal health. I fully support the policy that animal products imported into the EU from third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in and trade between EU member states.

In this context the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, wrote last month to the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection on the issue of sanitary rules applying to the import of livestock products, especially beef, into the EU. In the letter, the Minister raised the matter of equivalence on the specific and important issues of animal traceability, controls on veterinary medicines, prohibited substances and residue monitoring programmes in these countries and in particular with regard to Brazilian beef in view of its increasing presence on the European market. The Minister requested the Commission to consider the matter and invited it to put forward appropriate proposals before the EU standing committee on the food chain and animal health.

Irish farmers are required to ensure their production systems and farm practices fully comply with a wide range of EU directives on important matters including traceability, animal health and welfare and consumer protection. These all have significant in-built cost factors, and bearing in mind that our beef farmers are in competition on European and international markets with beef from low cost producers such as Brazil, we will continue to seek real equivalence in these areas, both in discussions within the EU and in the context of the WTO talks on market access.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

With regard to labelling we have indicated an intention to extend the country of origin labelling for beef to the restaurant and catering sector and the necessary provisions will be included in the Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005, which is currently before this session of the Oireachtas. Beef labelling is currently governed by comprehensive EU regulations which were introduced in 2000 and are underpinned by a full national animal identification and traceability system. These compulsory labelling regulations require all operators and organisations marketing beef within the EU to provide information on the label to enable the beef to be traced back to the animals from which it was derived and must include details on the slaughterhouse, de-boning hall and the country in which the animal was born and reared.

These requirements apply to all beef sold at retail level regardless of whether that beef was produced within the EU or in a third country. Where beef is imported into the EU from a third country and all the above details are not available, that beef must, at a minimum, be labelled as "Origin: non-EC" along with an indication of the third country in which slaughter took place. This information must accompany the beef at retail level, including up to the point of delivery into hotels, restaurants and catering establishments. These regulations are enforced by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. The various representative bodies including the Irish Hotels Federation, the Restaurants Association of Ireland and the two vintners groups, following discussions with my Department, have all agreed to recommend to their members to provide this information to their customers on a voluntary basis in advance of the mandatory legal requirement. It is expected that the voluntary code will be in place in the near future.

Regarding the labelling of poultry meat, there are EU regulations which provide for the labelling of unprocessed poultry meat at retail level. The regulations require such meat to be labelled with the information regarding class, price, condition, registered number of slaughterhouse or cutting plant and, where imported from a third country, an indication of country of origin. There are no specific EU regulations governing the labelling of pigmeat or sheepmeat beyond the general food labelling regulations which do not require country of origin information. However, we intend to pursue further the question of labelling of other meats at EU level.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The question concerned in part the date for the introduction of country of origin labelling, which has been promised. If it was part of the reply not read on the floor of the House it may perhaps be given as a supplementary answer.

The Minister of State mentioned Brazilian beef, but does the Department have information on the statement of IFA president John Dillon regarding three cases of foot and mouth disease in Brazil last month? Following the banning of Brazilian beef in the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, is there a case to be made in the EU, and particularly in Ireland given the country's dependence on the beef industry, for a similar measure to be taken? Will the Department have any influence on the EU Commissioner for Trade, Peter Mandelson, and his efforts in the opposite direction, which would cut 60% of tariffs and open up a flood of untraceable food into Europe?

Is the Department able to intervene when a type of cattle not sold in Ireland, humpback cattle from Brazil, are marketed after being processed as Gaelic steak? Is the issue of labelling not so important that it is time for the Department to give the matter urgent attention? A woman from the midlands told me she got half a leg of lamb, with the outer packaging stating it was an Irish product and the inner wrapping stating another country of origin. Is the Department not able to do anything about this or is it going to stand by as the meat industry is effectively destroyed by cheaper meat that lacks traceability and is not subject to the regulations in this country? This is fact rather than innuendo or anecdote. Will the Department bring about traceability in restaurants, the retail trade and in every other aspect?

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Most of the issues raised by Deputy Sargent have already been dealt with. One of the words used by the Deputy in his question was "deluge" when referring to beef imports. In 2004 Ireland exported approximately 411,000 tonnes of beef and imported 22,000. The traffic was in the right direction from our point of view.

Both the Minister and I have indicated to this House and other fora that we intend to extend country of origin labelling of beef to the restaurant and catering sector. The necessary provisions are included in the Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004, which is currently before the Seanad. Current beef labelling is governed by comprehensive EU regulations introduced in 2002. We have a voluntary code agreed between the restaurant sector, the two vintners organisations and the hotels sector.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Of course the Minister of State knows the code is really working.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The voluntary code is operational in advance of compulsory requirement.

There are three regions of Brazil from which exports of beef are banned by the European Union. That was on the basis of the country being regionalised as we experienced ourselves some years ago when Ireland had an incidence of foot and mouth disease. The matter of Gaelic labelling was referred to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, which has central responsibility for food labelling.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Does the Minister of State realise that more should be done? Does he, for example, believe it acceptable for chickens from Thailand to be imported into Ireland, coated with breadcrumbs and then sold as Irish produce?

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I refute that contention.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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It is a fundamental matter and I put the question to the Minister of State. Will he respond to the criticism that the Department has not done enough to ensure traceability and control over regulations?

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I refute the Deputy's contention. We are determined to ensure that country of origin labelling is advanced as quickly as possible, and the appropriate legislation is currently before the Oireachtas. With regard to general standards, the food and veterinary office of the European Union carries out regular audits in third countries from which exports are allowed into the European Union.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Those audits can be postponed if requested.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The European Commission has a presence in South America and Asia. As I indicated earlier, the Minister wrote to the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection to ensure that equivalence is acted upon and guarantee adequate consumer protection, as well as protection for the industry. The industry in the European Union works to the highest standards. We will ensure that requirements are applicable at all stages to ensure that products imported from third countries to the European Union are up to standards demanded by the Food and Veterinary Office. In any aspect of food there should be absolute diligence. Animal health should be managed on an ongoing basis, and this was the content of the Minister's submission to the Commissioner.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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I asked about the labelling of chicken.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The practice referred to by the Deputy is banned.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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We must move on to Question No. 97.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I mentioned at the outset of my reply that I refuted entirely Deputy Sargent's contention about the Thailand product.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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It is sold as Irish.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I call Question No. 97.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Perhaps the Deputy should read the European document regarding substantial transformation. I was the only Member who put this issue forward without the support I am now receiving.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Minister should address Question No. 97.