Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on whether a guarantee that equivalent standards apply in a non-EU country is equivalent to the standards that apply in EU countries with regard to traceability; the action she has taken to determine the exact nature of, and the degree of compliance with, such standards as are guaranteed by a non-EU country, for example, Brazil, with respect to traceability; the number of farm visits the EU veterinary inspectorate has carried out during trips to South American and Asian countries during each year since 2000; the results of those visits as they have been communicated to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6084/06]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As a member of the EU and the World Trade Organisation Ireland is in a position to avail of opportunities for trade that are essential for the development of our open economy. Membership of these organisations also brings reciprocal trade obligations. The principle is that imported animal products meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between, member states. All such imports must come from third countries or areas of third countries that have been approved by the EU authorities for export to the EU.

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. I fully support, therefore, 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. Indeed the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, has been in contact with the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Mr. Markos Kyprianou, on this point and on the related point of labelling.

The Commissioner has made it clear that the Commission will not hesitate to take the appropriate protection measures if a product imported from a third country or produced in the domestic market represents a risk for the health of EU consumers, livestock or plants. He pointed out that the Commission's adoption of restrictive measures with regard to the finding of residues of unauthorised substances in poultry meat and the quick and proportionate protective measures applied to imports of beef as a result of the recent outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Brazil demonstrate the Commission's primary objective of maintaining the high sanitary status of the Community and respecting the EU's commitment under the WTO agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures. All measures adopted by the Community on import restrictions for human or animal health reasons are discussed and agreed at meetings of the standing committee on animal health and the food chain. Senior veterinarians from all member states attend these meetings. In terms of the foot and mouth outbreak in Argentina, for example, the standing committee yesterday adopted a Commission proposal to ban imports of meat from the Corrientes region of Argentina.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister of State's time has concluded.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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He should learn to speak more quickly.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I am sometimes accused of speaking too quickly.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Wallace, on her new portfolio and look forward to working with her. The name "Mary" must have something to do with agriculture.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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I may change my middle name by deed poll.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is welcome in Fianna Fáil at any time.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for that. Perhaps the Minister of State did not have time to fully reply to what I consider to be an important part of my original question, that is, the number of foreign visits carried out by the veterinary inspectorate and, specifically, the number of trips made to South American and Asian countries each year since 2000. I am trying to clarify the correlation in terms of levels of inspection between exporting South American countries and the expectations of EU countries.

When the Minister of State stated "that it is a requirement that animal products imported in third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in and trade between member states", he rehearsed a reply given to two questions I asked in December. However, the Minister seemed to contradict that in December when she noted: "with respect to traceability and controls of residues of veterinary medicines, the purpose of EU legislation is not to impose on exporting third countries a system of guarantees that is equal to the EU system." I am confused as to the difference between these two answers and the implications thereof but perhaps the Minister of State will clarify the matter.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2000, six audits were carried out in Brazil, as well as a further audit at the end of 2005 regarding which European Commission officials are still in consultation with Brazilian authorities. My recollection is that four audits were carried out in Argentina.

With regard to the operation of EU controls on exports from Brazil, an FVO inspection to evaluate animal health and public health control systems and the traceability and certification procedures in place in that country has recently been carried out. Arising from this the Commission presented a proposal to the standing committee on the food chain and animal health yesterday to address some of the shortcomings in the Brazilian animal traceability system identified by the FVO. These additional certification requirements are designed to demonstrate that no contact has occurred between animals of different or lower health status, vaccinated animals and meat from areas where there is no vaccination programme is also identified and meat for export to the EU is derived only from deboned and matured meat from areas free of the foot and mouth virus. That standing committee, which continues to meet, is also considering other issues.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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A play on words is created by the line "the purpose of EU legislation is not to impose on exporting third countries a system of guarantees that is equal to the EU system." Absolute clarity and strong systems are needed in terms of the standards we expect and demand in the European Union. How do we ensure that no risks arise from the beef imported from South American countries? The foot and mouth crisis in that region produced banner headlines and we do not want to face that issue again.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The application of standards in the member states of the European Union is monitored by the FVO, which has total confidence in that area. Inspections are carried out by that body to ensure that the relevant standards are adhered to.