Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 368: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the extent to which pet food is imported into this country; if such imports contain meat and bonemeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14578/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Importation of meat and bonemeal or such products for any purpose to do with the farm animal and human food chain is prohibited. Under Community rules the importation of such products which have already been incorporated within pet foods and which are destined for meat eating animals is provided for subject to certain conditions. Data supplied by the Central Statistics Office indicate that the total quantity of pet food imported into this country from January to December 2004 was 40,621 tonnes.

Importers of pet foods are required to register with my Department and give at least 24 hours' notice of intention to import. In the case of pet food originating from an EU source, it must come from an approved establishment and be accompanied to its destination with a commercial document or a health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the competent authority of the member state of origin. In the case of importation from third countries, it can only be imported under licence and must be presented to an authorised officer of my Department at a border inspection post. In such cases it must originate in a country approved by the EU for trade in such products, have been produced in an approved establishment and be accompanied by a health certificate in accordance with the provisions of Community legislation.