John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of breaches of food labelling and traceability regulations detected in the food processing, retailing and catering sectors since 1 January 2005; the number of prosecutions undertaken as a result of such breaches; the number of convictions secured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20764/08]

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for the enforcement of labelling and traceability legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and its official agents, which includes the Health Service Executive and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Between 2005 and 2007 the Health Service Executive (HSE) reported to the FSAI that, in the course of its inspection programme, 3,683 breaches of labelling regulations were detected. Food business operators were notified of these non-compliances and appropriate follow up action was taken. The HSE has taken 58 prosecutions against food business operators in this period, some of which included charges in relation to labelling. I have asked the Chief Executive Officer of the FSAI to forward, directly to the Deputy, details of how many of these prosecutions relate to labelling and how many of these prosecutions resulted in convictions. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has indicated to the FSAI that between 2005 and 2007 it detected 662 breaches in relation to the labelling of poultry and egg products. Food business operators were notified of these non-compliances and appropriate follow up action was taken. Two prosecutions were taken in 2007 and 105 seizure notices were served. In June 2007 the FSAI secured a conviction in the District Court against a food business operation for illegal labelling of food. In March of this year South Dublin County Council secured a conviction in the District Court against a food business operator for breaches of general and beef labelling legislation.