Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 410: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if all beef and beef products imported into Ireland and on sale through shops, supermarkets or the catering trade are expected to be compliant with EU regulations in regard to traceability, hygiene and husbandry requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25980/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The placing of animal products on to the market for human consumption must be in accordance the provisions of the European Communities Food Law applying at all stages of the production, processing and distribution of food, including importation. It is the responsibility of Food Business Operators under this legislation to ensure food of animal origin, such as beef, they place on to the market is hygienic, has come from an approved source and is traceable. Under Service Contracts with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland my Department and other Government Department's and Agencies with responsibility for Food Safety apply controls on operators to ensure these provisions are applied.

Import control forms a part of the EU's integrated policy of guaranteeing that the food produced and placed on to the market is safe and that animal and public health is not put at risk. Animal products imported from third countries are required to meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between, Member States. All imports must come from third countries or areas of third countries approved by the Community for export to the EU.

My Department has responsibility for operation of public and animal health control on imports of animal origin including beef from count outside of the EU. They are carried out at EU approved Border Inspection Posts in co-operation with Customs Service.

The EU's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) carries out assessment of third countries wishing to export animal products to the EU and Commission approval in granted where the responsible authorities can provide appropriate guarantees as regards compliance or equivalence with Community feed and food law and animal health rules. Third countries and their establishments that are approved to export are audited and inspected by the FVO with regard to these guarantees and reports of the findings of inspections are published on its website. If an outbreak of an animal diseases occurs in a third country approval to export to the EU is suspended for the country or the effected region, as appropriate, until this risk has been eliminated. Where the FVO considers that public health requirements are not being met an establishment may be removed from the EU approved list.