Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland on its report into breaches of food labelling laws; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23649/06]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland on its report into breaches of food labelling laws of 90 food businesses completed in 2004; the action which her Department has taken following the reporting of breaches in the legislation under its control; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23596/06]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland on the enforcement of the food labelling laws in view of their report to her Department of breaches in the law under her jurisdiction following an investigation of 90 food businesses completed in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23595/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 70 and 146 together.

The enforcement of food labelling regulations is centralised in the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) who ensure that the appropriate controls are carried out by the relevant official agencies. The official agencies include the Health Service Executive, my Department, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs and the local authorities.

My Department is in touch with officials of the FSAI on an ongoing basis and regular meetings are held to discuss a wide range of issues. Any issues which arise in relation to the enforcement of food legislation, including enforcement of labelling legislation, are discussed where necessary, in this context. Prior to the recent introduction of labelling regulations extending the beef regulations to the catering sector, my Department held a number of meetings with the FSAI to ensure that appropriate enforcement procedures would be put in place.

My Department received the elements of the FSAI report that referred specifically to plants that came within its remit. These related to 11 premises and were all minor breaches. The issues identified by the FSAI audit were addressed by my Department to the satisfaction of the FSAI.

Martin Brady (Dublin North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans for the labelling of beef by the catering and restaurant sector. [24482/06]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when she will introduce country of origin labelling within the catering trade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23650/06]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the success of the voluntary arrangement with the catering industry, for labelling of beef with country of origin; when she expects to be able to include poultry meat in this scheme; her further views on a voluntary code of labelling with country of origin for foods other than beef; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24607/06]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the voluntary code for country of origin labelling within the catering trade has been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23651/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 98, 119 and 144 together.

Regulations for the purpose of beef labelling in the restaurant and catering sectors have now been made by the Minister for Health and Children, making the provision of country of origin information on beef in these sectors mandatory. These Regulations, entitled Health (Country of Origin of Beef) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 307 of 2006), will come into operation on 3 July 2006. They require that a food business operator providing prepared beef to consumers shall not (a) advertise beef for sale or supply, (b) present it for sale or supply, or (c) sell or supply it unless the country or countries of origin of the beef is indicated at the point of advertising, presenting, sale and supply in clear legible type on the advertisement, menu or other presentation used.

The introduction of these regulations followed a period of consultation with the Department of Health and Children, the FSAI and the representative bodies for hotels, restaurants and pubs on the details involved including their enforcement. These regulations will be enforced by the FSAI through checks to be carried out by Environmental Health Officers throughout the country.

While the enabling legislation passed by the Oireachtas in March of this year also facilitates the extension of country of origin labelling to all meats, due to different systems of traceability and some import/export complexities, it is not as straightforward as it is for beef. In addition, the EU Commission is opposed to Member States introducing legislation in this area that is in excess of common EU requirements. Serious challenges could arise in the implementation and enforcement of national legislation that is not underpinned by harmonised EU provisions due to such factors as the amount of processing and repackaging operations that poultry, in particular, may be subjected to before arrival in this country.

Consequently, the preferred way forward is that the EU Commission would progress the question of country of origin labelling of all meat. I wrote earlier this year to the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection requesting that consideration be given to extending the rules in regard to country of origin labelling at EU level in relation to poultry in particular because of concerns raised in the context of developments on Avian Influenza. I also raised the matter in the Agriculture Council some months ago and will continue to take every opportunity to press for progress on this matter.

I am glad to say that the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate of the EU Commission has recently commenced a consultative process on a wide range of issues in this area, under a document entitled 'Labelling: Competitiveness, Consumer Information and Better Regulation for the EU'. I have arranged for my Department to make a submission on food labelling and country of origin labelling of meat in particular to the Department of Health and Children who are co-ordinating the Irish contribution to this process.

With regard to the implementation of the voluntary code on beef labelling in the catering sector, I am unable to give specific information as a detailed survey was not carried out. This voluntary code will now be superseded by the new Regulations with effect from 3 July 2006.