Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 401: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the restrictions which are in place to stop the importation of chicken from non-regulated markets into Ireland where it is minimally processed and sold as Irish products; the quality standards which are imposed on these products and the way in which the industry is policed to ensure standards for consumers. [26611/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Only processing plants applying the highest standards in relation to veterinary controls equivalent to those applicable in the EU, particularly in terms of legislation, hygiene conditions, animal health status, veterinary medicines controls, residues programmes, zoonoses controls and other food law will be issued with an EU approval number by my Department, and as such are the only processing establishments authorised to use the term "IRL" on their labelling.

All imported poultry meat must be sourced from EU approved establishments which have effective control systems and are supervised by the competent authorities. A health certificate conforming to the models set down in EU legislation must accompany poultry meat being imported from third countries. All consignments must first be landed at an approved border inspection post and undergo documentary, identity and physical checks. Once it has been established that the meat has met all the required conditions it is released for free circulation within the Union. Imports failing to comply with these veterinary control checks may be detained for further examination. If non-compliance is established they are returned to the exporting country or destroyed.

EU regulations also apply to poultry meat which provide for the labelling of unprocessed poultry meat. The regulations require such poultry meat to be labelled at retail level with the information regarding class, price per kg, condition, registered number of slaughterhouse or cutting plant and, where imported from a third country, an indication of country of origin. The implementation of these regulations is monitored on a continual basis by Department staff.