Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

We certainly have done so and I have been involved in it. There is an outstanding division in the Department of Agriculture and Food which has done an outstanding job at inspectorate, management and administration level. Huge progress has been made and the IFA and farming organisations, particularly the growers, are very pleased with it. We are copperfastening what we are doing in this primary legislation.

I made it clear in my contribution that the situation pertaining to imports is that they must have a plant passport label, issued by an official body in the country of origin. The label must show either the official registered grower number or the official packer number in accordance with European Union regulations. There is an absolute guarantee of identity and traceability in regard to from where the product is coming. Imports are subject to EU law and, therefore, there is traceability on imports. We have our inspectors, as have Customs and Excise. Therefore, there is a double opportunity for Ireland to pursue very rigorous inspections to protect that traceability and provide a guarantee of quality. I emphasise that imports must have either a producer's or packers' number which is officially controlled in the country of origin.