Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 366: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to extend mandatory country of origin food labelling to sheep, pig and poultry meat. [18144/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children, drafted regulations that would require an indication of country of origin on sheep, pig and poultry meat. The draft regulations were notified to the European Commission in December 2008. While the Commission has adopted a negative opinion on the proposal, it has afforded us the opportunity to provide further information in support of the draft legislation. This will be provided in the coming weeks.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 367: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to increase nutritional awareness as part of our food advertising and marketing through the development of nutritional and calorific labelling. [18145/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Food advertising issues are primarily the remit of the Minister for Health and Children. At EU level, Regulation 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims came into force in July 2007. The main aim of the Regulation is to allow consumers to make informed food choices, by ensuring that they receive accurate information and are not misled. Claims for health benefits will have to be adequately substantiated by scientific evidence. Food business operators are responsible for ensuring that claims they make on food labelling, presentation and advertising are authorised.

My Department has encouraged the food industry to provide more nutritional information as a general principle. A number of food companies have shown an interested in labelling based on Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) and a recent IBEC survey showed that GDAs were increasingly used by multiples. One area of concern to the FSAI is the salt content of certain foods. My Department has also funded research into reduced sodium breads and prepared meals and food companies have made commitments to the FSAI on reducing the salt content of foods.