Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children, will introduce a proper labelling structure for all meats produced here; her views on whether producers and processors here meet very stringent regulations and inspections; if she will advise that all imported products meet the same restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6318/08]

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 Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), the Health Services Executive (HSE), the Local Authorities (LAs) and the National Consumer Agency (NCA). Specific EU legislation for the EU beef has been in place since September 2000. As this legislation did not cover labelling of beef sold by the catering trade I collaborated with the Minister for Health & Children to have national legislation enacted to require 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.

I have signalled my intention to have legislation brought forward to require the country of origin to be shown on poultry meat, pigmeat and sheepmeat sold in the retail and catering sectors. A draft of such regulations was prepared by my Department in consultation with the Department of Health & Children. A public consultation process was conducted by the FSAI and the draft regulations have been submitted to the European Commission for approval.

The EU Commission is currently reviewing the whole area of food labelling and recently presented proposed legislation on the provision of food information to consumers. Producers and processors must meet the regulatory requirements laid down in both EU and national legislation and inspections are carried out by my Department, the SFPA, the HSE, the LAs and the NCA as appropriate in accordance with the relevant FSAI service contracts.

EU Regulations govern the import of products of animal origin from third countries. In accordance with the regulations such imports may only enter the territory of EU through Border Inspection Posts (BIP) approved by the EU where veterinary inspection controls are applied. Moreover imports are permitted only from approved and listed third countries, or regions of those countries and, in the case of animal products, from approved export establishments. The EU rules have also harmonised the import veterinary certification requirements. Having satisfied the entry control at a BIP imports are then free to move in intra-community trade. The Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the European Commission carries out audits of the operation of controls in the Member States, and in third countries, and publishes reports of its findings on its website.