Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the labelling on all poultry products sold here reflects the country of origin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27525/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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We already have EU Regulations which provide for the labelling of unprocessed poultry meat at retail level. The information which these regulations require on the label includes the registered number of the slaughterhouse or cutting plant and, where imported from a Third Country, an indication of country of origin. These regulations do not apply to poultry products that are processed in any way. Draft regulations requiring the origin labelling of pigmeat, poultry meat and sheep meat were prepared in my Department and forwarded to the Department of Health and Children as the Regulations will be made under the Health Act 1947.

A public consultation on the proposed regulations took place during the past month via the website of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. The consultation period has now passed and the proposed legislation is being reviewed in the light of submitted comments. The draft legislation will then be forwarded to the European Commission for approval. The commencement date for the legislation will depend on the Commission's response and, possibly, that of other Member States. In the proposed legislation 'origin' will be defined as the country where the animal was reared and, if different, the country of slaughter. This will have to be indicated on meat and meat products containing over 70% meat. The requirement to show the country of rearing and slaughter of the animal will not be superseded by any 'substantial transformation'.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of inquiries or inspections carried out by her Department in the past 12 months with a view to the authentication of meat or meat products purporting to be of Irish origin; if she is satisfied that all such labelled products accurately reflect their original source; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27526/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Health and 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 Sea Fisheries Protection Agency, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency.

General food labelling legislation, as set out in Directive 2000/13/EC on the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs does not require a declaration of origin of food. However declaration requirements exist in legislation for some food products including beef, and some imported poultry in specific circumstances such as when raw and pre-packed. There is a clear requirement that consumers should not be misled by food labelling. Manufacturers may voluntarily declare a country of origin, and consumers should not be misled by that declaration.

The labelling of beef is governed by Council Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000 of 17 July 2000 and is underpinned by a full animal identification and traceability system. These compulsory labelling regulations require all operators and organisations marketing beef within the Community to provide the following information on the label:

A reference code to enable the beef to be traced back to the animal or group of animals from which it was derived

The approval number of the slaughterhouse and the country in which it is located

The approval number of the de-boning hall and the country in which it is located

An indication of the origin of the animal from which the beef was derived to include the country in which it was born and reared.

These Regulations are implemented in Ireland by the European Communities (Labelling of Beef and Beef Products) Regulations, 2000 (S.I. No. 435 of 2000) and the European Communities (Labelling of Beef and Beef Products) (Amended) Regulations, 2002 (S.I. No. 485 of 2000).

The competent authority with responsibility for enforcement of labelling legislation in retail establishments is the Health Service Executive through its Environmental Health Officers under contract to the FSAI. As far as my Department is concerned labelling checks are carried out as part of the routine official checks at meat plants under DAFF control. Checks are conducted on a random, risk based frequency and cover labelling, traceability/origin, identification of cattle, labelling of carcases, meat, mince meat, meat products.