Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 1105: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider putting in place a mandatory labelling system for all meat sold at the counter, a labelling system that will clearly and unambiguously inform the consumer the way the food they eat has been produced, specifically the method of production used to raise the animal, part of which they are about to purchase; his views on the current inadequacy of the labelling system of meat, whereby consumers, who surely have a right to know the way in which their food has been produced, are left in the dark. [18404/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Food produced in Ireland is farmed to the highest standards and in compliance with all relevant EU Public Health and Animal Health and Welfare regulations.

As an essential component of a Single European Market, the development of objective definitions around methods of production at farm level and the relevant labelling requirements takes place at EU level. There are a number of regulations impacting on labelling including those for Marketing Standards, Consumer Information and specific production methods (e.g. Organic farming). Objective standards are set, inter alia, for organic production and for free range production in the poultry and egg sectors.

In addition to the general labelling rules which are set out in Directive 2000/12/EC, the general principles of food law set out in Regulation 178/2002 also state that "Without prejudice to more specific provisions of food law, the labelling, advertising and presentation of food or feed, including their shape, appearance or packaging, the packaging materials used, the manner in which they are arranged and the setting in which they are displayed, and the information which is made available through whatever medium, shall not mislead consumers."

Against this background, my powers to introduce national legislation in this area are constrained by the available legal bases in EU law.