Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will demand the publication of the report of the EU Food and Veterinary Office's visit to Brazil in March 2007, and that there be an independent observer included in the party for the next EU visit to Brazil. [27084/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I would welcome the publication of this report at the earliest possible date. However it is important to note that the FVO have procedures which can involve protracted correspondence on their draft report with the national authorities in the Member State or Third country concerned. The time taken for the publication of this report is above the average but there are instances where up to 8 months elapsed between the FVO mission and the date of publication of the final report.

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.