Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the Food Safety Authority became aware of the recall of a food product (details supplied); when information was forwarded to it by the UK food standards authority on the product in question; when it received details of the withdrawal of product by the manufacturer; the reason for the delay in withdrawing the product from Irish shelves and issuing information to the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4850/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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On Thursday, 2 February last, the Food Standards Agency, FSA, UK notified the European Commission of the withdrawal from sale of a consignment of baby rusks because of non-compliance with EU regulations on the maximum limit for pesticide residues in infant food. The rusks were found to contain low levels of the pesticide, chlorpropham. This message was received by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI, on Thursday evening, 2 February, via the European rapid alert system for food and feed, RASFF. As no distribution details were included on the notification, the Commission requested the UK to provide such information.

FSAI officials discussed the matter with the FSA UK incident team on Friday morning, 3 February, and it was noted that: the FSA risk assessment indicated that there was no risk to health; the company was initiating the withdrawal of the products from the market; and some products had been distributed to Ireland, but exact details were not available. Immediately on receipt of this information the FSAI initiated its own risk assessment to determine the health risk associated with the consumption of the product. In addition, the manufacturer was contacted directly, in order to establish what products had been distributed within Ireland and what action was being taken to remove them from sale.

At mid-day Friday 3 February, the manufacturer confirmed that three of the 11 products which had been affected in the UK had been distributed in Ireland and details of their distribution was provided. Details were also provided of the action taken to withdraw the products from the food chain and food stores. I have been informed that this action commenced on Thursday evening.

The FSAI is satisfied, on the basis of the risk assessment, that consuming the product poses no risk to public health. It also considers that the information provided by the manufacturer and the action taken was appropriate and in these circumstances no further action is deemed necessary at this stage.

I am satisfied that the FSAI acted rapidly and responsibly in the interests of public health and I have been assured that it will continue to keep the matter under close review, in particular to monitor the effectiveness of the withdrawal.