Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that imported pork, bacon and beef products have been sold off as stamped Irish approved products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47431/08]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will guarantee or confirm that all meat products being sold from shop refrigerators on which the Irish approved stamp is shown are fully Irish; the checks in place to ensure same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47433/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 322 together.

Following the recall of pork products initiated on 6 December 2008, the rapid and decisive action taken by my Department and other agencies involved allowed me to confirm 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.

As part of a determined information campaign, such products carry a special label, developed by An Bord Bia, the purpose of which is to confirm that these Irish products are perfectly safe to consume and have had no association with the potentially contaminated feed. There is a strict approval procedure on the issue for the authorisation for usage of these labels. In addition, Bord Bia have carried out spot audits into processing plants and retail outlets as a further check on the correct implementation of these new measures.

General food labelling legislation, as set out in Directive 2000/13/EC on the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs does not require a declaration of origin of food. However declaration requirements exist in legislation for some food products including beef, and some imported poultry in specific circumstances such as when raw and imported from a non-EU country. There is a clear requirement that consumers should not be misled by food labelling. Manufacturers may voluntarily declare a country of origin, and consumers should not be misled by that declaration.