Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 972: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if all meat and meat products imported and on sale here at all outlets are compliant with national and EU traceability standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11301/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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In general, responsibility for control and enforcement at retail level of labelling of meat and meat products rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

My Department is responsible for the operation of EU controls on imports of products of animal origin under the service contract with the FSAI and in compliance with Community rules for the hygiene of food and feed. These rules stipulate that food products of animal origin imported from an EU source must be from approved food business establishments and be accompanied to destination by a commercial document or a health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the competent authority of the Member State of origin.

In the case of importation from third countries products of animal origin for human consumption must have originated in a country approved by the EU for trade in such products, have been produced in an approved establishment be appropriately labelled and transported and be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate in accordance with the models laid down by Community legislation. The Food and Veterinary Office of the EU (FVO) monitors and audits animal and public health controls applied in approved third countries.

Consignments from third countries must be landed at an EU approved Border Inspection Post (BIP) approved by FVO for veterinary checks. My Department undertakes its import control in co-operation with Customs services.

The scope of products of animal origin coming under these requirements are set out under Commission Decision No. 2007/275/EC11 Official Journal of the European Communities No. L116 of 4.5.2007 which also provides for an exemption from border inspection in the case of certain composite and specified food products comprising processed low risk animal products and plant products. Such food products must nevertheless comply with public health requirements for placing on the market. Consignments of animal products must remain under Customs control until the BIP has authorised entry into the EU.

Any imports failing to comply with these veterinary control checks may be detained for further examination. Where non-compliance is established they are returned to the exporting country or destroyed.

Where there are risks to animal and public health, and in cases of animal disease outbreaks, the Community introduces safeguard measures banning or restricting imports until the risks have been removed.

The FVO monitors and inspects each Member State controls on Food Safety including the operation of BIPs to ensure the conditions for import and placing of animal products on to the market, as provided under the harmonized legislation, are being correctly applied.