Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 396: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the terms of reference of the group assembled by him to investigate regulatory issues following the dioxin food crisis in December 2008; when this group is due to report its findings; the membership of the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18857/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The terms of reference for the Review Group established to examine dioxin contamination of pork and beef in Ireland are: to examine and report on the sequence of events leading up to the discovery of the dioxin contamination of Irish pork and beef; to assess the actions taken by the relevant authorities leading up to the withdrawal of products from the market.

In the light of experience gained in the incident to make recommendations on future policy in relation to food and feed safety controls; to address the responsibility of all food / feed business operators along the food chain from primary productions to the point of sale to the consumer to ensure full compliance with the legislative requirements to produce safe food; to look at how the relevant authorities and the food and feed business operators interact and to review their respective roles; to assess the manner in which any future food safety incidents can be managed so as to ensure consumer health is protected whilst minimising the economic impact.

The membership of this group are:

The Review Group has sought submissions from interested parties and, as I indicated to the Joint Oireachtas Committee, it will take on board the views and recommendations of the Committee in its deliberations. The Group is expected to conclude its deliberations as expeditiously as possible.