Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 125: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the Government proposes to introduce legislation on mandatory origin labelling for beef in Irish restaurants, hotels, pubs and catering outlets; when she proposes that a scheme for compulsory country of origin labelling will operate and in practice; the person who will implement same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33759/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will be aware that we already have comprehensive origin labelling for beef sold at retail level which is governed by EU regulations. These requirements also apply up to the point of delivery into hotels, restaurants and catering establishments and are enforced by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI.

I am currently in the process of extending the existing beef labelling laws to require information on the country of origin of beef to be provided to all consumers in Irish restaurants, hotels, pubs and catering outlets. I put specific proposals to Government at the end of June for a legislative framework to facilitate this, by way of an amendment to the 1947 Health Act. The necessary provisions will be included in amendments to the Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005, which is currently before the Oireachtas. The appropriate regulations are being worked on concurrently and it is the intention to have these cleared at EU level as soon as possible. When the Act is amended and the regulations made, country of origin information will be available to consumers in respect of all beef served in restaurants, hotels, pubs and throughout the catering sector in Ireland on a mandatory basis. These requirements will also be enforced by the FSAI.

In the meantime, the main representative bodies, including the Irish Hotels Federation, the Restaurants Association of Ireland and the two vintners groups, following discussions with my Department, have all agreed to recommend to their members to provide this information to their customers on a voluntary basis in advance of the mandatory legal requirement. I expect this to be in place shortly.