John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if arrangements have been made to search at ports and airports for food products in the possession of people entering here from affected areas; if food products have been confiscated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3094/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The personal import into the EU for one's own consumption of meat, meat products or milk products by passengers coming from third countries has, since January 2003, been prohibited under Community law. Transport operators who bring passengers from third countries into the EU are required to bring the ban to the attention of passengers. Bins have been provided in the main airports for the surrender of any animal product that has been inadvertently carried. Arrangements have been put in place in co-operation with customs and excise and An Post to extend the scope of these controls to cover postal packages also.

During 2005 a total of 1,054 personal import seizures of animal products were undertaken, comprising 5,121.8kg. The majority of these seizures comprised meat and meat products and included a small percentage of poultry products coming from countries such as China, Thailand, Nigeria and the Philippines where outbreaks of high pathogenic avian influenza infection have been confirmed.