John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the measures he proposes to ensure the enforcement of food labelling and traceability regulations in the food processing, retailing and catering sectors; his views on whether the failure to carry out such enforcement undermines the stringent traceability regime implemented by the farming sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20763/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, 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, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency. 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.

I understand from FSAI that all agencies concerned check on compliance with labelling legislation in the course of their routine inspections of food premises. There is a commitment to enforce the regulations by all the agencies concerned. For example:

In June 2007 the FSAI secured a conviction in the District Court against a food business operator for illegal labelling of food. Fines and expenses totalling over €18,000 were imposed and,

In March 2008 a food business operation pleaded guilty to charges made by South Dublin Co. Council for breaches of general beef labelling legislation. While applying the Probation Act the District Judge required the food business operator to make a donation of €12,000 to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and awarded €1,500 expenses to the Council.

The stringent traceability regime implemented by the farming sector is part of the package of measures put in place by the EU to provide assurances on the safety of food demanded by consumers in the EU and importers in third countries.