Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 329: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the extent to which food imports here or to other EU member states are subjected to regular or spot checking to ensure compliance with national or EU standards; the number of breaches of such regulations in the of the past five years to date in 2010; the action taken, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4202/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department in co-operation with Customs service monitors and operates animal and public health controls at EU approved Border Inspection Posts (BIP) on all direct imports into Ireland of products of animal origin coming from non-EU (or third) countries. Controls are also carried out on postal parcels and passenger baggage coming from third countries.

EU rules stipulate that 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. To be eligible for import from third countries products must be sourced from countries the EU regards as operating controls on production and processing that give equivalent guarantees to those in the EU. They must be accompanied with the appropriate EU model health certification provided by the competent authorities of the country of origin. Following prior notification to the BIP of import all consignments must be presented for veterinary examination which will include documentary, identity and physical checks in accordance with EU requirements. The EU Food & Veterinary Office (FVO) monitors and inspects each Member State's 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.

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

BIP controls on consignments of products of animal origin directly imported into Ireland for human consumption over the past 5 years are as follows:

*information available to 30 September 2009

All Member States are required to carry out controls on imports from third countries along the same lines as those operating in Ireland.