Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which he and his Department expects to be in a position to counter any negativity arising from recent traceability or quality breakdowns with particular reference to quality assurance on worldwide markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7375/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Following the findings of the FSAI Survey on the authenticity of meat products (published on January 15), which disclosed the presence of horse meat in burgers and the identification in the follow up investigation of the source, the problem has developed into a pan European investigation of food fraud involving a range of meat products and traders/food business operators.

My aim throughout this situation has been to ensure that everything possible is done to fully restore consumer confidence in the Irish meat sector. I asked Bord Bia to maintain constant contact with our export markets to reassure international buyers that there is no food safety issue involved and that the issue has been dealt with swiftly and appropriately by the Irish authorities. Initial market impact at consumer level (weekend of Jan 20th ) indicated that the controversy was largely confined within the UK and Irish markets, where the affected products were on sale and taken off the shelf, where the media coverage has been intense and consumer awareness very high. The research indicated that consumers were ring-fencing the problem to this particular segment of the market, and not extending or generalising it to the wider industry. The processed meat sector is a relatively limited segment of the total Irish meat market and is not otherwise impacting on Irish food exports. Beyond these markets, media coverage, interest and awareness has been limited and no concerns whatever have been reported to Bord Bia by trade buyers or consumers. The fact that our controls identified this particular issue and the manner in which it has been addressed will assist in maintaining the confidence in Irish food.

The Irish beef industry has a blue chip portfolio of high end supermarket and food service business in Europe’s consumer markets that is without parallel. The industry’s success is based on robust relationships with premium customers built up over an extended period and based on a track record of high quality standards, underpinned by our green credentials. More than 75% of all Irish beef exported is produced from some 34,000 farms which are members of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme. Similarly, under Bord Bia’s Origin Green programme, most of our meat exporters have also signed up to the implementation of a sustainability plan that commits them to the achievement of stretch targets in key areas around emissions, water, biodiversity and health and well-being. Based on these programmes Bord Bia will continue to strongly assert our high quality standards and green credentials at every opportunity. Recent and forthcoming international trade events at which Bord Bia have participated included Sirha Trade Show (Lyon), where Irish beef was selected to be the ingredient in the prestigious Bocuse D’or competition, Prodexpo (Russia) and Gulf Food – the world’s biggest food and hospitality exhibition. All of these trade events will be attended by a number of Irish meat companies who will be promoting the quality and sustainability of Irish beef, emphasising that we continue to adopt the highest standards of traceability and safety in our meat industry.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline, in the interests of food traceability, accuracy of description and origin, the way he will ensure the authenticity of the description of all such products imported into this jurisdiction or slaughtered and/or processed within the jurisdiction reflect their origin with particular reference to the integrity and credibility of the food-producing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7376/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under EU Food Safety legislation, primary responsibility for the safety of food placed on the market place lies with the food business operator. Controls on the import of food are implemented by a number of agencies, including my Department, through service contracts with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

The main food products within the responsibility of my Department are products of animal origin. As regards intra community trade such products can be traded freely within the Community provided they originate from EU approved plants. Consignments of these products imported into Ireland from third countries are checked at a Border Inspection Post (BIP) on arrival in Ireland. There are two product BIPs in Ireland, at Dublin port and Shannon airport, operated by my Department. Controls on imported products consist of three types of checks – documentary, identity and physical. All consignments have a documentary and identity check and a proportion of products as laid down in legislation are subject to physical checks.

Arising from the disclosure in the authenticity survey conducted by the FSAI of equine DNA in certain beef burgers, I have requested manufacturers of processed meat products to carry out DNA testing and to work with the FSAI in developing testing protocols for this purpose. Given the pan European nature of the problem I have also arranged to have it discussed at EU level.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of food traceability, if he will ensure that those responsible for breaches of the existing code are dealt with in such a manner as to discourage and prohibit such breaches in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7377/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under EU Food Safety legislation, primary responsibility for the safety and traceability of food placed on the market place lies with the food business operator. The role of my Department and other agencies working within a service contract with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is to verify compliance by the food business operators with this requirement.

Whenever a non-compliance with this legislation is uncovered, appropriate action is taken by the control agency which is consistent with the seriousness of the breach concerned.