Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 537: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason country of origin labelling is included as a labelling requirement for fruit and vegetables under EU marketing standards under Regulation (EC) No. 1580/2007, as amended by Regulations (EC) Nos. 1221/2008 and 771/2009 but not included in the labelling requirements for poultrymeat, sheepmeat or pigmeat. [37220/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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European marketing standards for fresh fruit and vegetables, which included a requirement to declare origin, were established in the early 1960s within the first Common Organisation of the Market for fruit and vegetables. It is my understanding that these largely reflected national standards in existence in several member states. EU beef labelling rules were introduced subsequently in the context of a BSE situation to emphasise traceability and provide information to consumers to boost market confidence.

The Commission has indicated that it will bring forward proposals for simplification of marketing standards for agricultural products arising from the Green Paper on EU Food Quality policy, which was published in 2008. The Commission has in mind the introduction of a common base standard via the Single Common Market Organisation.

Meanwhile, Ireland is pursuing harmonised EU rules on origin labelling in the context of a proposed EU regulation on the provision of food information to consumers for which the Department of Health and Children is the lead Department.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 538: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the way EU marketing standards apply to poultry meat, pigmeat and sheepmeat; the further way EU marketing standards apply to the country of origin status on the labelling of pigmeat, poultrymeat and sheepmeat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37221/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The EU does not have EU marketing regulations for pigmeat and sheepmeat. For poultrymeat, the EU marketing regulations that apply are for unprocessed product, for which the following statutory labelling information is required; (a) use-by date

(b) class (poultrymeat must be graded as Class A or Class B).

(c) in the case of fresh poultrymeat, the total price and the price per weight unit at the retail stage

(d) condition (i.e. fresh, frozen or quick-frozen)

(e) recommended storage temperature.

(f) registered number of the slaughterhouse or cutting plant

(g) in the case of poultrymeat imported from third countries, an indication of the country of origin.

Apart from the requirement applicable to unprocessed poultrymeat from third countries, EU marketing standards do not oblige country of origin labelling for poultrymeat, pigmeat and sheepmeat. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department sought the introduction of national legislation for such labelling but this was not approved by the EU Commission. The issue is now being pursued in the context of proposed EU legislation on food information. The Department of Health and Children is the lead department for that proposal.