Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if traceability and husbandry standards as applied here are imposed on meat and poultry imports with particular reference to compliance with Irish and EU regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31925/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which poultry imports are required to comply with Irish and EU regulations with regard to traceability, husbandry, hygiene and production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31932/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 393 together. Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002, which sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law, stipulates among other things, that food business operators at all stages of production, processing and distribution within the businesses under their control must ensure that foods satisfy the requirements of food law and that these requirements are met. In regard to traceability the regulations require that the operator must have systems in place to be able to identify any person from whom they have been supplied with a food. They must also have a system in place to identify the other businesses to which their product has been supplied.

All products of animal origin for human consumption imported into the European Union from third countries must be inspected at an approved Border Inspection Post. The products undergo documentary, identity and physical examinations to ensure that they comply with relevant EU and national legislation. Imports must be accompanied by health certification provided by the competent authorities of the country of origin. The Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the EU conducts audits and reports on production and export controls operated in approved third countries. The FVO also approves third-country meat processing establishments wishing to export to the EU and audits Member States' import controls for products from third countries.

When all import controls have been satisfied, compliant consignments may then be imported and placed on the single market, where they are treated the same as other compliant products and subject to the EU's Food Hygiene Regulations. In Department-approved meat establishments in Ireland, the same level of supervision is afforded to both imported and locally produced product. Veterinary inspectors ensure that meat coming into supervised premises must be from an approved source, whether locally produced or imported.