Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she is satisfied that quality, hygiene and production methods of all poultry imported into Ireland are compliant with National and EU regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4110/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am satisfied that all poultry imported into Ireland is compliant with both EU and National regulations. Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that Member States must apply to the production of and trade in products of animal origin, including poultry meat and poultry meat products, as well as to imports of these products from third countries. Under harmonized legislation a series of health and supervisory requirements are applied in the Member States to ensure that animal products are produced to standards that guarantee the safety of food and the protection of human and animal health. The application of these standards in the Member States is monitored by the FVO (Food & Veterinary Office) of the EU.

It is a requirement that animal products imported from third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between, Member States. All such imports must come from third countries or areas of third countries approved for export to the EU. The FVO carries out inspections to ensure that only establishments that meet hygiene and health standards equivalent to those operating within the EU are approved. Where the FVO considers that public health requirements are not being met, an establishment may be removed from the EU approved list. If outbreaks of animal diseases occur in a third country approval to export to the EU is suspended for the infected regions of the country, or the whole country, as appropriate, until the disease risk has been eliminated.

Import controls form a part of the EU's integrated policy of guaranteeing that the food produced and placed on to the market is safe and that animal and public health is not put at risk. They are a part of the EU's hygiene package the implementation and monitoring of which is carried out since 1999 by my Department under the Service Contract with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.