Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the breakdown of all the products surrendered by being put in the amnesty bins at airports here for surrender of animal product that has been inadvertently carried into Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24595/06]

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. Officers of my Department are deployed to carry out passenger interviews and bag searches on a random basis at ports and airports where travellers from third countries arrive. The interception of illegal imports from passengers whose journeys commenced within the EU is also being carried out.

The following table provides a breakdown of the animal products surrendered by passengers during 2005 and 2006 to date.