Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will supply a list of Spanish and Dutch companies which export food ingredients into Ireland. [3355/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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EU law provides for the free movement of goods between Member States. On that basis, food ingredients produced in an establishment which is approved under relevant regulation can be moved freely within the EU. The onus of compliance with EU food safety regulations, including traceability requirements, rests in the first instance with food business operators. Food business operators in Ireland are responsible for carrying out checks to ensure that their ingredients come from approved plants. In meat plants that operate under the supervision of my Department my officials conduct audits on these checks to verify their effectiveness. My Department does not maintain a list of Spanish and Dutch companies, or companies in other EU Member States, that export food ingredients to Ireland.