Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she is satisfied regarding the adequacy of food labelling with particular reference to the identification of the country of origin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21905/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for enforcement of labelling legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) through its service contracts with my Department, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency. In relation to the particular issue of country of origin labelling, compulsory beef labelling legislation incorporating the origin of this meat has been in place since September 2000. I have already collaborated with the Minister for Health & Children and introduced legislation to ensure that all beef sold or served in the retail or catering sector is now required to carry an indication of the country of origin. This legislation is enforced by the FSAI. Regarding the labelling of poultry meat, there are EU Regulations which provide for the labelling of unprocessed poultry meat at retail level. The Regulations require such poultry meat to be labelled with the information regarding class, price, condition, registered number of slaughterhouse or cutting plant and, where imported from a Third Country, an indication of country of origin.

In relation to other meats I have signalled my intention to have legislation brought forward to require the country of origin to be shown on poultry meat, pigmeat and sheep meat sold in the retail and catering sectors. A draft of such regulations was prepared by my Department and is currently being finalized by the Department of Health & Children. A public consultation process is currently being conducted. Following consideration of any views received it will be necessary to submit the draft regulations to the European Commission for approval. The EU Commission is currently reviewing the whole area of food labelling and in that context my Department contributed to Ireland's submission which was co-ordinated by the Department of Health & Children. Within this submission Ireland explained why it felt that origin labelling should be compulsory for all meat. As well as direct contact with the Commission on this I have also raised this matter in the Agriculture and Fisheries Council and I will continue to press for progress as I believe consumers are entitled to full information on the origin of food products.