Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of labelling breaches detected throughout the food industry in each of the past three years to date; the action taken thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14590/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Food Safety Authority of Ireland, under the aegis of the Minister for Health, has overall responsibility for the enforcement of food safety in Ireland. This includes the enforcement of food labelling regulations. It carries out this remit through service contracts with my Department and other agencies including the Health Service Executive, Local Authorities, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and National Standards Authority of Ireland. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has advised my Department that the number of inspections where non-compliance with labelling legislation was found was 11,231 in 2009, or 16.33% of the total number of inspections carried out in that year; 9,919 in 2010, or 14.04% of the total number of inspections carried out in that year; and 9,499 in 2011, or 15.98% of the total number of inspections carried out in that year. Final confirmed data is not yet available for 2012. The majority of these infringements were minor and remedial action was taken. During the period in question, there were seven prosecutions which included breaches in labelling legislation.