Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the outcome of the meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 13 October 2008 regarding food labelling and country of origin as referred to in Parliamentary Question No. 557 of 30 September 2008. [41707/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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A draft decision notifying Ireland not to proceed with its draft legislation for country of origin labelling of pigmeat, poultrymeat and sheepmeat was one of the items on the agenda of the meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 13 October 2008.

The Commission summarised the grounds advanced by Ireland for the draft legislation but pointed out that it had adopted a negative opinion. Its view was that the proposed regulations were not justified under the provisions of the current labelling directive.

The Irish delegation pointed out the basis for the draft legislation including the various misleading labelling practices and the legitimate expectation of consumers to know the origin of their food. It also indicated that the current provisions of the labelling directive were not sufficient to pursue effectively the variety of misleading cases and also referred to the fact that health marks and ill-defined "substantial transformation" could conceal the true origin of product.

The Commission took note of the observations but indicated that it was maintaining its position.

I will continue to argue for country of origin labelling of meat in the context of the Commission's proposal for a new regulation on food information. The Department of Health and Children is the lead Department for that proposal and my officials remain in contact with it on this issue.