Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proportion of horse meat goes into the production of prepared meat dishes and nuts for dogs and other prepared foods sold for dogs through supermarkets and shops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7698/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The manufacture of pet food in Ireland is governed by EU regulations relating to animal by-products (ABPs), which provide that this product must be processed in a plant approved by the competent authority and to the parameters specified in the legislation.

The regulations permit the manufacture of pet food from specified ABPs, including ABPs which are fit for human consumption but are not intended for human consumption for commercial or other reasons. I understand that none of the pet food manufacturers approved by my Department under the EU regulations uses horsemeat as an ingredient in the manufacture of their pet food product.