Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps being taken to amend legislation to ensure that foodstuffs of foreign origin cannot be labelled as produced in Ireland, processed in Ireland or sourced and produced in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25577/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Commission reviewed the whole area of food labelling and in that context my Department contributed to Ireland's submission which was coordinated by the Department of Health & Children. The Commission subsequently brought forward a proposal for a regulation on the provision of food information to consumers. This draft regulation will be examined by Council of Health Ministers and the European Parliament under the co-decision procedure. The FSAI proposes to initiate public consultation on this proposal from July to October this year.

The Deputy will be aware of the measures taken in relation to the labelling of beef both at retail level and within the catering sector.

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 will reconsider the draft measures once we have submitted additional explanatory information. This information is currently being prepared for transmission to the Commission.