James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the enforcement measures taken to ensure compulsory country of origin labelling of beef is taking place in hotels, restaurants and pubs; the number of inspections, enforcement teams have carried out; the results of such inspections; if the labelling process will extend to other meats; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36081/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The responsibility for implementation of the Health (Country of Origin of Beef) Regulations 2006 (SI 307 of 2006) lies with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). There are over 44,000 food businesses in Ireland of which 29,000 are in the service sector. This includes restaurants, hotels and pubs. These food businesses are inspected on a routine basis by some 220 Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) in the Health Service Executive (HSE) operating under a service contract with the FSAI.

Inspections primarily focus on compliance with hygiene and food safety requirements. Checks on compliance with the Health (Country of Origin of Beef) Regulations are now incorporated into routine inspections for establishments covered by these Regulations. To date no prosecutions have been taken for breaches of the Regulations.

The FSAI is preparing written guidance for all caterers on how to comply with the Regulations. In the meantime, consumers are advised of their right to have the country of origin of beef provided to them by a caterer. Where such information is not made available they should bring this to the attention of the HSE in the first instance, or the FSAI.

The enabling legislation passed by the Oireachtas in March of this year, under which these regulations were made, also facilitates the extension of country of origin labelling to all meats. However, because different origin labelling requirements apply to other meats in the retail sector, under current EU legislation, and there are also different systems of traceability as well as some import/export complexities, it is not as straightforward as it is for beef. The European Commission has opposed Member States introducing legislation in this area that is in excess of common EU requirements. Nonetheless, my Department is at present in the process of drafting new regulations to require operators in the retail and catering sectors to provide country of origin information on poultrymeat, pigmeat and sheepmeat. It is my intention to submit these regulations, when they are finalised, to the European Commission for approval as required by EU legislation. I am also taking every opportunity to press the European Commission, both bilaterally and in the Council of Ministers, to take measures to introduce compulsory country of origin labelling on all meats at EU level. I have used opportunities presented by bilateral meetings with other Member States to seek their support for extended country of origin labelling rules.