Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans to establish an all island food label; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32752/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am supportive of initiatives to promote food on all-island basis where this is of mutual benefit and leads to closer economic co-operation. The development of an all-island animal health policy is a necessary prerequisite to the establishment of an all-island food label. The development of the animal health policy is being actively pursued in the context of North/South cooperation. In addition an all-island food label would require negotiation between the relevant authorities regarding its status and conditions for use and general acceptance from consumers and buy-in by producers and processors island-wide.

In the meantime a Memorandum of Agreement was finalised between Bord Bia and Invest Northern Ireland (INI) to provide for structured ongoing co-operation in food promotion at International Trade Fairs, retail promotions on the UK market, co-operation on developing the speciality sector on an all island basis and market research and intelligence.