Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her attention has been drawn to an EU report relating to the standards and quality of beef imports into the European Union including Ireland; if she has made enquiries as to whether this report has identified regulations or standards not being complied with; if such matters are expected to affect the health and quality of the product on sale here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27524/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the Deputy is referring to the publication of a report by the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission (FVO) on a visit it made to Brazil earlier this year to evaluate animal health controls in that country.

I would welcome the publication of this report at the earliest possible date. However it is important to note that the FVO have procedures that can involve protracted correspondence on their draft report with the national authorities in the Member State or Third country concerned.

The Food and Veterinary Office is part of the EU Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection. It conducts missions to Member States and third countries to check on compliance with the requirements of EU food safety and quality, animal health and welfare and plant health within the EU and on compliance with EU import requirements in third countries. The Commission report on their findings to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. I would remind the Deputy again that the Commissioner has personally assured me that he will not hesitate to take appropriate protection measures if a product, imported from a third country represents a risk for the health of EU consumers, livestock or plants.