Written answers

Wednesday, 24 September 2008

Department of Agriculture and Food

Poultry Industry

9:00 pm

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 1604: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the measures he is taking to protect the poultry industry here in view of recent closures in the industry; if he has plans to introduce proper labelling for poultry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30811/08]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The main challenge facing the indigenous Irish poultry industry is competition from imports of fresh poultry from other EU countries. Under single market rules unrestricted volumes can be traded between Member States and, for various reasons, they are very competitively priced. The primary outlet for Irish-produced poultry is the fresh retail trade where Irish product is still dominant. The Bord Bia Poultry Quality Assurance Scheme is a recognised quality mark in that market and the Bord has been very active in growing and enhancing the Scheme over the years. In addition to the Quality Assurance Scheme, assistance is available from Enterprise Ireland for certain types of activities undertaken by poultry processors.

In 2004 the poultrymeat labelling regulations were extended to cover meat sold loose in retail outlets. These were the maximum measures allowable under harmonised EU labelling legislation. Last year my Department decided to extend these by drafting new national regulations that would require the country of origin to be indicated on pigmeat, poultry and sheepmeat and on processed foods containing at least 70% of these meats. In December 2007 these were notified to the European Commission as required by legislation. The Commission adopted a negative opinion in March on the grounds that the proposed legislation was not in compliance with EU food labelling regulations. It did, however, afford us the opportunity to provide further information in support of our case and to this end there has been an exchange of correspondence and a meeting between Department and Commission officials to advance the subject. The Commission's definitive position on our proposed regulations is expected by the end of this month.

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