Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if all meat and meat products imported are labelled and compliant with the disease, hygiene and traceability standards applicable here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9351/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Meat and meat products imported from an EU source must come from an approved establishment and be accompanied to its destination by a commercial document or a health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the competent authority of the Member State of origin. In the case of importation from third countries meat and meat products must originate in a country approved by the EU for trade in such products, have been produced in an approved establishment and be accompanied by a health certificate in accordance the provisions of Community legislation and must be presented for inspection at an EU Approved Border Inspection Post.

Checks are carried out by the EU Food and Veterinary Office to ensure that EU requirements are being complied with and I am satisfied that my Department and other State Agencies have a system in place to ensure that all food imported into this country complies with National and EU Regulations.

I have been in regular contact with Commissioner Kyprianou on the issue of meat imports and he has assured me that the Commission will not hesitate to take the appropriate protection measures if a product, imported from a third country or produced in the domestic market represents a risk for the health of EC consumers or livestock. A representative of the Commission gave the same assurance to the Joint Oireachtas Committee in September 2006.