Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 428: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will appoint a task force within his Department to expedite traceability within the pork sector from the processor to the supermarket shelf; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45999/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Following the recall of pork products initiated on 6 December 2008, and on the basis of an ongoing evaluation process by my Department and other agencies involved in this issue I confirmed on 10 December 2008 that all the necessary controls are now in place to enable the restoration of supplies of Irish pork and bacon to consumers.

The purpose of these controls, which were developed over a very short period through decisive and rapid action taken by my Department and other agencies, is to ensure that only pigmeat certified as coming from herds that are completely unaffected by the current feed contamination issue enters the food chain and is supplied to consumers.

The controls allow those involved in the pigmeat industry to resume the supply and sale of Irish pork and bacon products in which the consumer can have full confidence.

This is part of a determined domestic and international marketing campaign and all such products on the home market will carry a special label, developed by An Bord Bia, which will confirm that they are perfectly safe to consume and verifies them as having had no association with potentially contaminated feed.

With regard specifically to the issue of traceability, pigs are currently identified by farm of origin, traceability of pork at slaughter and, on the basis of production batch.