Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 365: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the mechanisms he is putting in place to improve the traceability of meat consumed here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19678/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that all food labelling in respect of food products on sale here accurately reflects the country of origin and complies with Irish and EU standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19886/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 375 together.

It is a matter for the FSAI to ensure that appropriate checks are carried out and any breaches of food labelling legislation should be reported to the FSAI. EU beef labelling legislation requiring country of origin labelling of beef has been in place since September 2000. As this legislation did not cover beef sold by the catering trade Minister Coughlan 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 poultrymeat, there are EU Regulations which provide for the labelling of unprocessed poultrymeat at retail level. The Regulations require such poultrymeat 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. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children, drafted regulations that would require the country of origin to be indicated on pigmeat, poultry and sheepmeat. This was notified to the EU Commission in December 2007 as required by legislation. The Commission was not prepared to adopt the draft regulations in their present format on the grounds that the proposed legislation is not in compliance with EU food labelling regulations. However, it indicated that it would reconsider the draft measures on submission of additional explanatory information. This information is currently being prepared for transmission to the Commission.