Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in the aftermath of the Common Agricultural Policy and World Trade Organisation reforms, she is satisfied about the security and traceability of food and food products available in the Irish and European markets with specific reference to animal health and hygiene from husbandry to processing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5991/06]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that member states must apply to the production of and trade in food products of animal origin, including the traceability aspects, as well as to imports of these products from third countries. It is a requirement that animal products imported from third countries 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 approved for export to the EU.

While there is free movement for trade within the EU, all consignments from third countries must first be landed at a border inspection post, BIP, that has been approved by the Food and Veterinary Office and undergo documentary, identity and physical checks. These latter checks are carried out at frequencies laid down in EU law. The FVO carries out monitoring and inspection of each member state's BIPs to ensure the conditions for import of animal products into Europe provided under the harmonised legislation are being correctly applied.

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, Deputy Coughlan, has raised the issue with the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Mr. Markos Kyprianou, concerning the sanitary rules applying to the import of livestock products, especially beef, into the European Union. In particular, I have drawn the Commissioner's attention to the need for real 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 light of its increasing presence on the European market.

Irish farmers are required to ensure that 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 farmers are in competition on European and international markets with low cost third country producers, I 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.

With regard to meat labelling, I am fully committed to ensuring that country of origin is clearly stated on the label. In this regard an enabling provision to allow for the extension of our comprehensive beef labelling regulations to include a requirement for information on the country of origin of beef to be provided to the consumer at the point of choice by establishments in the retail, restaurant and catering sectors, including food business operators, is before the Oireachtas by way of a proposed amendment to section 54 of the Health Act 1947 through the Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

While the proposed enabling legislation before the House will facilitate the extension of country of origin labelling to all meats, because of different traceability systems and some import-export complexities, it is not as straightforward for other meats as it is for beef. As with beef, EU approval would also be required. Notwithstanding these issues, I intend to pursue the matter of country of origin labelling at EU and national level with a view to full implementation at all points of choice.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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On the issue of traceability, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland produced a report in 2004. We have been speaking about new legislation but in regard to existing legislation is the Minister of State concerned that one fifth of retail outlets in the trade do not meet the beef labelling regulations and, if so, what is the Department doing about it? Is the Minister of State concerned that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland found that 15% of beef labelled as Irish came from South America and was passed off as Irish food product? When did the Minister of State become aware of the Food Safety Authority report as I understand its contents were made available to the various supervisory agencies?

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I understand Deputy Naughten raised that issue on the Adjournment recently with the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children. The beef labelling requirement issues are centralised under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. With regard to the issue of transformation, which has been raised constantly by Deputies Naughten and Upton, the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, has consistently raised it at EU level at the Council of Ministers and it will be raised shortly once again. The Bill going through the Oireachtas completed Report and Final Stages last evening and has to go back to the Seanad in respect of amendments made in this House. It will then be a matter of signing off on regulations to be presented to the EU for approval.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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The report to which Deputy Naughten referred is of considerable concern to all of us with an interest in protecting the Irish food industry and the Irish consumer. While the Food Safety Authority is not under the banner of the Minister of State in terms of funding, is it acceptable that there are only five auditors to deal with 43,000 food businesses and that when a small sample of 90 was taken, a high percentage of those fell outside the legal requirement? Surely there is a need to increase the level of auditing capacity and the level of enforcement to restore confidence in the industry and on behalf of the consumer.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The point raised by the Deputy is one for the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Department of Health and Children. Of course, there is a strong working relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and agencies that have a relationship with the food and agriculture industry. I think the report to which Deputies Upton and Naughten referred is some years old. So far as I recall, there has been a more recent export——

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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No, there has not.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I understood there was a more recent——

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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No, there has not been a more recent report.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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That involves research.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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I do not want to be left in a position where the Minister will leave the House. There has not been a more——

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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That is old information. That is not to take away from the seriousness of the issue.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Just to clarify for the information of the House, it is a 2004 report and no report has been completed since. In that report, which is the most recent since 2004, 42% of premises visited did not meet the existing labelling legislative requirements. In light of the fact that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland made that information available to the official agency with responsibility for supervising the various premises, some of which comes under the control of the Department of Agriculture and Food, what action has been taken to date? Is the Minister of State concerned about the contents of that report and, if so, what will be done to ensure this abuse is eradicated once and for all?

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The labelling and monitoring of the food industry was centralised in the Food Safety Authority of Ireland which was the first such body to be established in the European Union. Obviously, if there are discrepancies and if there are people who are not following the laws of the country and enacting them properly, the full rigours of the law will apply and will be implemented by the relevant statutory agencies. The Department of Agriculture and Food has only an inspection role in regard to the maintenance——

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Since the 2004 report——

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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That is not what he said.