Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when it is proposed to introduce legislation to lessen the regulatory burden on small businesses in the food sector. [24111/04]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Earlier this year the EU adopted a package of measures to revise and consolidate Community legislation in relation to food hygiene. The bulk of this package is due to come into force on 1 January 2006. Although the recast of EU legislation was primarily motivated by the necessity to ensure high levels of public health protection in relation to food production, it also provided an opportunity to simplify the range of complicated and often overlapping legislation which has evolved in the food hygiene area over the past 30 years or so. The package also provides for a risk-based approach to inspections of food businesses.

The regulations will also provide flexibility for food businesses operating in remote areas, traditional methods of food production, the direct supply by the producer of small quantities of primary products to the final consumer or to local retail establishments directly supplying the final consumer. I strongly support the idea of providing every encouragement and help to small businesses within the food sector. In drawing up the implementation arrangements for the new EU hygiene package, I have asked my Department to take full account of their specific needs where this is possible having regard to the constraints of the EU regulations and the overriding need to guarantee the safety of food provided to the final consumer. The role of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and of local authorities, who are primary regulatory bodies in relation to this sector, will be central in this process.