Written answers

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Food Labelling

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the timescale for the implementation of new food information regulations and the implications for the agri-food sector. [36972/12]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Health has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation and the new EU food information regulations were adopted by the Council of Health Ministers. The Food Information for the Consumer Regulation (1169/2011/ EC) extended explicit compulsory origin labelling requirements to meats other than beef, with the detailed rules to be adopted in implementing acts by 13th December 2013, following an impact assessment by the Commission. The Regulation also adopts rules on compulsory labelling where the origin or place of provenance of a food is given and where it is not the same as its primary ingredient. In so far as meat as an ingredient is concerned, these rules are subject to the adoption of implementing acts, which must themselves take account of an impact assessment to be carried out by the Commission and reported to the European Parliament and the Council no later than 13th December 2013. It is not expected that any subsequent implementing legislation will be effective until 2014.

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