Written answers

Thursday, 4 November 2010

Department of Agriculture and Food

Beef Exports

2:00 pm

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 23: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department is taking all necessary steps to ensure grading machines are working correctly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40545/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In the European Union (EU), carcases of adult bovines are classified or graded in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) 1249/2008 using the EUROP scale for conformation and a scale of 1 to 5 to indicate fat cover. Some Member States, including Ireland, further divide each main class into sub-classes in order to refine the classification assessment of the beef carcase. Classification is used in many cases as the basis for payment to producers and it underpins the EU price reporting system for beef.

Machine classification was only introduced following a formal authorisation procedure, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) 1215/2003. At this point in time there are 23 machines in use in the meat plants, while 4 plants continue to classify manually. It is now estimated that in excess of 90% of beef carcases from export approved plants are classified by machine. At the time of the introduction of machine classification, it was viewed by Irish beef producers and the processing industry as an independent and objective manner of classifying beef carcases as opposed to manual classification, which is regarded as subjective.

Since the introduction of mechanical classification of beef carcases in late 2004/early 2005, the performance of the classification machine in each beef processing plant is monitored by regular unannounced inspections by officials of my Department. The classification results allocated to beef carcases are downloaded from the mechanical classification system onto a hand-held computer and the officials assesses the results of at least 80 carcases previously classified by the machine. This assessment of the classification for both conformation and fat is carried out using sub-classes for each main class. The performance of the machine is determined using the same scoring criteria as laid down in the EU Regulation for authorisation purposes.

The mechanical classification of beef carcases was introduced over five years ago in Ireland and is now well established and accepted as an independent, objective and consistent system for classifying beef carcases.

In order to further improve the performance and monitoring of the classification machines, officials of my Department have held discussions in recent months with the various stakeholders involved in beef carcase classification. The stakeholders included farmers' representatives, the meat trade and the manufacturers of the classification machines. I wish to acknowledge the participation and positive contributions of all stakeholders during the discussions. A number of measures have been introduced, or are in the process of being introduced, in order to enhance controls and procedures with the aim of ensuring the effective operation of the mechanical classification system. These measures include:

Increased frequency of control visits by officials of my Department;

Enhanced monitoring of inspection results;

Monitoring of classification trends in each meat plant;

Formal self-checks of machines by factory operatives in each meat plant;

Ongoing training of factory operatives on the operation of machines;

Enhanced communications between stakeholders.

The performance of the classification machine in each beef processing plant and the implementation of these enhanced controls continue to be monitored by regular unannounced inspections of meat plants by officials of my Department.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.