Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 461: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that all food, food products or ingredients imported, sold or distributed here are fully compliant with Irish and EU laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26394/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for food safety rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland through its service contracts with my Department, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Health Service Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency. The authority co-ordinates and monitors the operation of community standards applied to all foods for human consumption under the EU Food and Feed Hygiene Regulations. Food products of animal origin traded 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. Imports from non-EU countries take place on the basis that they comply with the relevant requirements of food law or conditions recognized by the EU to be at least equivalent standard. The EU Commission, under WTO and international Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreements, approves countries that can guarantee that products of animal origin are produced and processed to EU equivalent standards and provide health certification as required by the EU. The Food and Veterinary Office of the EU carries out audits of third countries and monitors the operation of EU import controls by the Border Inspection Posts. 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. Consignments of animal products from third countries must be landed at an EU approved Border Inspection Post for veterinary checks and remain under Customs control until the Border Inspection Post has authorised entry into the EU. The scope of products of animal origin coming under these requirements is set out under Commission Decision No. 2007/275/EC, Official Journal of the European Communities No. L116 of 4.5.2007. 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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 462: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the efforts he is making directly or in conjunction with his EU colleagues to bring about a reaffirmation of policies likely to ensure the future viability of the food producing sector here and throughout the EU with particular reference to the need to preserve adequacy and security of supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26395/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received submissions from the various farming organisations with reference to the future viability of the food producing sector in the context of the Irish and European economies; his plans to address the issues raised by associations (details supplied) and other farming representative groups in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26396/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 463 together.

I have been conscious for some time of the need to maintain policy frameworks that support the viability of the food-producing sector in Ireland and throughout Europe and that preserve the adequacy, security and safety of our food supply. In the light of these challenges on the domestic front, the AgriVision 2015 report established strategies for the development of a consumer focused, competitive and sustainable Irish agri-food sector, which is capable of meeting the challenges of more liberalised markets and broader societal demands at home and abroad. These strategies identify the delivery of safe, high quality, nutritious food that is produced in a sustainable manner in high value markets as the optimum road for the future of the Irish food industry in light of the changes which have already taken place or are anticipated over the next number of years. They span the entire food chain from primary production through processing to market access, which is key to developing export potential. I first raised my concerns about EU policies in the context of the WTO negotiations when I pointed out the need to ensure that due account is taken of the changes in the world since the Doha Round commenced in 2001. In particular, I emphasised that we should give proper recognition to the new challenges of food supply, food security and climate change. I have continued to make these points in debates and discussions with the Commission and my EU colleagues on the subjects of agriculture and climate change and future European agriculture policy generally.

From being a lone voice in highlighting these concerns, I have garnered the support of a considerable number of my EU colleagues, most particularly in the group of over 14 like-minded Member States. I believe there is a strong recognition among Council of Agriculture Ministers that Europe must retain its agricultural production base so that we can meet the future demand of our population for food, feed and bio-energy, while at the same time being in a position to assist least developed countries to meet their growing food needs. I am confident that this recognition will continue to be reflected in our upcoming discussions. As to the views of the farming organisations, I receive regular representations from the farming organisations and others on a host of current issues connected to the viability of the food-producing sector. However, I have not received any submissions from the various farming bodies referring specifically to the future viability of the food-producing sector in the context of the Irish and European economies.