Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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165. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continue to ensure the strict enforcement of traceability with particular reference to ensuring that all food imports are subject to the same criteria as those applicable in this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48758/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), under the aegis of the Department of Health is the competent authority with overall responsibility for the enforcement of food legislation in Ireland. Controls on the import of food are implemented by a number of agencies, including my Department, through service contracts with the FSAI. In relation to traceability, EU Food Hygiene Regulations stipulate, among other things, that there should be ‘one up, one down’ traceability at each point along the food chain and I am satisfied that food business operators in this country generally meet that standard.

In relation to intra community trade, food can be traded freely within the Community provided they originate from EU approved plants. Consignments of meat imported into Ireland from third countries are checked at a Border Inspection Post (BIP) on arrival. There are two 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.

Ireland operates EU harmonised import controls on products of animal origin arriving from non-EU (or third) countries. My Department operates these controls in collaboration with the Customs Services. Products of animal origin directly imports from third countries into Ireland that require import controls are not released by customs until they are notified by my department that the import controls have been completed satisfactorily and the consignment can be released. On release by customs the consignment must travel to the destination indicated on the common veterinary entry document issued by my Department.

The Environmental Health Service of the Health Service Executive also provides a range of food safety / food control services in accordance with its service contract with the FSAI. These controls include inspections and sampling of food sold in retail and catering establishments.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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166. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that all beef, lamb, pig meat or poultry imports in to this country and the European Union are subject to the same husbandry and traceability regulations as those applicable here; if all EU countries strictly observe the rules in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48759/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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International trade in agri-food products is a reality with which we must live and as a general proposition, as a country with a strong export focus, it is clearly in Ireland’s broader economic interests to ensure that there is a reasonably liberal, but balanced international trade environment.

To protect animal and public health and in accordance with international trade agreements, the European Union (EU) has set down the conditions for importation of consignments of products of animal origin from non-EU countries intended for release into free circulation in the EU. These import requirements are generic and applicable for all countries authorised to export to the EU. The legislation imposes a series of health and supervisory requirements, designed to ensure that imported products meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between Member States. Products must have originated in an area where there are no restrictions imposed under EU Safeguard measures and come from establishments which are under the supervision and control of the competent authorities. The products must be free from residues and contaminants, correctly labelled and travel with the specific health certificates or other documents conforming to the models laid down in EU legislation drawn up in conformity with the relevant model for the product, completed and signed on behalf of the competent authorities of the country of export. The EU's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) carries out assessments of third countries wishing to export these products to the EU and submits for Commission approval those where the responsible authorities can provide appropriate guarantees as regards compliance or equivalence with Community feed and food law and animal health rules. Third countries and their establishments that are approved to export are audited and inspected by the FVO with regard to these guarantees and reports of the findings of inspections are published on its website.

Import controls on products of animal origin arriving from third countries must be performed at an EU Border Inspection Post approved for that category of product being presented. Consignments for import requiring veterinary checks must be notified in advance to the Border Inspection Post of import and presented on arrival for checks with all the appropriate documentation. Border Inspection Posts in Ireland are operated by my Department. The import controls procedures on products of animal origin are highly prescriptive and strictly audited by the FVO to ensure compliance. Again, reports of the findings of inspections are published on the FVO’s website.

In summary, the import of products from third countries is governed by a comprehensive and robust legislative framework laid down at EU level, controlled by EU Member States in the first instance, and audited by the European Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office, to ensure compliance with all of the relevant food safety standards.