James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the quantities of meat per annum imported into Ireland of an origin unknown to consumers, packaged here and labelled Irish, for example beef from Brazil. [27848/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The source of all legally imported meat is known at the point of import. On direct import into the EU all consignments of animal products including beef from Brazil, must undergo documentary, identity and physical checks in accordance with EU rules at a EU approved Border Inspection Post. These checks confirm that the products have been sourced from a third country approved to export these products to the EU and from an approved establishment in that country, that they are appropriately labelled, packaged and that have been health certified in accordance with EU requirements by the competent authorities of the exporting country. On release from a BIP each consignment must travel under a Common Veterinary Entry Document (CVED), including information on the identity and origin of the consignment, to a Food Business Operator who, under EU Hygiene of Food and Feed Regulations, is authorized to place the animal products on to the market for human consumption. These Regulations also provide that the identity of the Food Business Operator placing the products on the market appear on a label in order to guarantee food safety as well as for the purpose of traceability in the protection of animal and public health.

Approval of countries to trade with the EU is a matter for the EU Commission and the EU Commissioner for Health has assured me that the Commission will not hesitate to take the appropriate protection measures if a product, imported from a third country represents a risk for the health of EC consumers, livestock or plants. In this context the EU Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) is to carry out a further mission to Brazil in November to assess progress in the implementation and operation of controls by the competent authorities in that country.

Consumers are entitled to information on the country of origin of beef. For this reason I collaborated with the Minister for Health & Children to ensure the introduction of legislation providing that beef sold or served in the retail or catering sector must also carry an indication of the country of origin. Responsibility for enforcement of this legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

The concept of substantial transformation is the basis used throughout the EU and elsewhere to define the origin of goods as being from the country where the last substantial economic change was made to them. In my view it should not be used to disguise the origin of certain products or to mislead the consumer as to the origin of raw materials. Last year the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate of the European Commission undertook a consultative process with a view to reviewing food labelling legislation. In its submission to the Commission Ireland recommended that the term "substantial transformation" should be strictly interpreted. It is essential that this process should not be used to hide the true origin of products and that labelling systems be adapted to ensure that consumers are not misled as regards the true provenance of a food. The status of the EU review of the general labelling Directive is that an interservice consultation has taken place in the Commission and the Commission is expected to present a proposal in December 2007. I will continue to press for a satisfactory outcome in this review of the food labelling legislation in the EU.