Written answers

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Food Labelling

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

348. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of regulations to ensure the highest possible standards in regard to traceability; the extent, if any, of new regulations in this regard, with particular reference to country of origin, in respect of meat and meat products originating in third countries, imported into the jurisdiction from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13355/15]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

350. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all meat and meat products available in Ireland and throughout the European Union continue to accurately reflect their ingredients, country of origin and relevant quality standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13357/15]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

352. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which checking, cross-checking and inspection continues in order to ensure the integrity of the labelling of all food and food products imported into this jurisdiction, or into the European Union and subsequently to this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13359/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 348, 350 and 352 together.

Rules on the labelling of meat and meat products are laid down in EU legislation.

For beef, compulsory labelling rules have been in place for many years, and require food business operators to label fresh, frozen or minced beef with specific information to enable the product to be traced back to the animals from which it was derived. This must include details of the slaughterhouse and de-boning hall in which the animal was processed, as well as the country in which it was born and reared.

In 2011 the European Union passed the Food Information for the Consumers (FIC), Regulation 1169/2011, which has updated the requirements for consumer information and labelling in a number of areas. In particular, the FIC Regulation extends mandatory origin labelling to meats other than beef for the first time. The implementing provision is Commission Regulation No. 1337/2013, which introduces mandatory origin labelling for meat from pigs, poultry, sheep and goats with effect from tomorrow, 1stApril 2015.  Under this regulation, labelling is required to identify the Member State or third country of rearing and the Member State or third country of slaughter for these meats. The term ‘Origin’ can also be used where the country/member state of birth is the same as the country of rearing and slaughter.

Ireland has been a strong proponent of such rules and I am today signing into law a new Statutory Instrument to ensure that the necessary provisions are in place to implement this mandatory labelling requirement from tomorrow.

As the deputy will also be aware, the Minister for Health has overall responsibility for general food labelling legislation. However, my Department plays an important role in the labelling of food together with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). Under EU law primary responsibility for the safety and traceability of food placed in the market place lies with food business operators. The role of my Department is to verify compliance by the food business operators with this requirement.

Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002, which sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law, stipulates, among other things, that food business operators at all stages of production, processing and distribution within the businesses under their control must ensure that foods satisfy the requirements of food law. Specifically in regard to traceability, the regulations require that food business operators must have systems in place to be able to identify any person from whom they have been supplied with a food. They must also have a system in place to identify the other businesses to which their product has been supplied. In other words a food business operator at each and every stage in the food chain must be able to identify the source of its inputs as well as having details of the first recipient of its output. This is commonly referred to as the “one step forward one step backward” traceability system.

My Department has a permanent veterinary presence at all its approved slaughter plants. Controls at stand-alone secondary processing plants are carried out at a frequency which is based on an annual risk assessment for each plant. An annual audit of imported products is carried out in each Department approved meat plant. The audit includes physical identity, labelling and documentary checks for product originating both in EU Member States and third countries. In addition, labelling and documentary checks form part of the routine checks conducted by Department officials.

The import of products of animal origin 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. 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.

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. Reports of the findings of inspections are published on the FVO’s website.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.