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

Question 17: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to implement the new EU country of origin labelling system for pork, sheep meat, poultry meat and goat meat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39805/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Responsibility for the enforcement of general food labelling legislation including country of origin, rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), a body under the aegis of the Minister for Health. This is achieved through service contracts between the FSAI and the relevant agencies including the Health Service Executive, the Local Authority Veterinary Service, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and my Department.

EU Council and Parliament Regulation 1169/2011 of 25 October 2011 on the provision of Food Information to the Consumer extends country of origin labelling to pork, sheepmeat, poultrymeat and goatmeat with effect from 13th December 2014 when, following impact assessments at EU level, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts. My Department fully supports this development and will continue to liaise with the Department of Health, the FSAI and relevant bodies representing farmers, processors and the retail sector regarding any requirements to be adopted to ensure conformity with new labelling requirements.

I am committed to ensuring that Irish consumers will have all the necessary information on the origin of meat products to allow them to make appropriate choices when purchasing food items.