Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of instances in respect of which checks by his Department have uncovered labelling or other documentation which appears to subvert traceability regulations in each of the past three years; the number of such checks carried out in this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12187/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of checks initiated by his Department to verify food labelling with particular reference to the country of origin and compliance with Irish and EU regulations in the each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12188/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.

Responsibility for enforcement of labelling legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) through its service contracts with my Department, the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency. As far as my Department is concerned, labelling checks are carried out as part of the routine official checks at meat plants where there is a permanent presence of DAFF Veterinary or Technical staff. Checks are conducted on a random, risk based frequency and cover labelling, traceability/origin, identification of cattle, labelling of carcasses, meat, mince meat and meat products.