Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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127. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which new markets for beef, lamb, pig meat, and poultry, or products thereof continue to be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41998/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A strong global demand for meat exists and my role as Minister is to facilitate market access so that Irish exporters can take advantage of market opportunities as they arise. My Department engages on an ongoing basis with many third countries, in collaboration with Bord Bia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Irish embassy staff, the meat industry and the European Commission on various market access issues.

Since taking office I have led trade missions to a wide variety of destinations, including China, the United States, Algeria, Japan and the Gulf States, in order to promote Irish food and beverages, including meat exports, and to open up new markets abroad. These initiatives have led to several notable successes in securing agreement to export Irish beef to Japan, Singapore, Egypt, Iran, the US, Canada and Oman; to export sheepmeat to Singapore, South Africa, the Philippines, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Canada and Oman; and to export pigmeat to Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Serbia.

In relation to China, the ban on boneless beef from Ireland has been lifted for animals under 30 months. Further work is required before trade will commence, and my Department is at present engaging with the Chinese authorities on these technical details. The beef market in the US was opened in January 2015 and as of the start of November 2015, an estimated 1,300 tonnes valued at €8.5 million has already been exported. This is a strong start to this trade considering that the first exports only went in March 2015 and some of the plants were only approved for export as recently as September. In relation to the Philippines, Ireland has now become their second-largest supplier of beef, and Ireland supplied around 20% of their beef imports during the first quarter of 2015.

Irish beef is now listed with more than 75 high-end retail chains across the EU. This wide portfolio of customers has contributed significantly to higher returns for Irish beef in recent years and reflects the success of Bord Bia’s differentiation and premiumisation strategy, which focuses on the main attributes of Irish beef: environmental sustainability, grass-based production systems, full traceability, quality assurance at all stages and superior eating quality. Among Bord Bia’s key initiatives in 2015 is the continued development, global promotion and marketing of the Origin Green initiative, which establishes Ireland as a world leader in sustainably produced food and drink. Over 200 companies are currently working with Bord Bia to develop and commit to sustainability plans setting out clear targets in emissions, energy, waste, water, biodiversity and corporate social responsibility activities.

The sheep sector is an important component of our agriculture sector and the third largest farming sector in Ireland with over 34,000 producers and an output value of over €230 million in 2014. Sheepmeat exports in 2014 totalled some €210 million. The market in Hong Kong opened for exports of sheepmeat in 2014 and exports of sheepmeat were valued at almost €9 million in 2014.

The poultry sector plays an important role within the Irish agricultural economy, accounting for approximately 2% of gross agricultural output and supporting around 5,000 jobs, mostly in rural areas. Export values for poultry meat have increased steadily in recent years to c. €310 million in 2014, growing by 20% in the last year alone, as the value of trade was driven by larger shipments of processed products. A high proportion of these exports are destined for the UK and redirected to international markets through agents for ‘fifth quarter’ product like chicken feet. Strong fundamentals increased demand in almost all regions of the world in 2014. This is expected to continue in 2015, although some easing in global poultry prices is expected.

The development of a viable pigmeat sector is a priority for me, given the crucial role which the industry plays in supporting approximately 7,000 jobs including production, slaughter, processing, feed manufacture and services. In 2014 export volumes jumped by approximately 7%, with growth to the UK, Continental Europe and International markets. Export values were up by 3% and are in the range of €570 million, continuing the steady growth seen in recent years. Although the increase in Irish pigmeat exports to international markets in recent years has been negatively impacted by the restrictions of the Russian trade ban, this has been offset by the opening of alternative markets such as Vietnam and the Philippines. These Asian markets will continue to provide valuable opportunities for Irish pork producers into the future.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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128. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied regarding the adequacy and frequency of checks and inspections in respect of food and food-product labelling in this country and throughout the European Union, with particular reference to the need to preserve the integrity of the food industry, and to recognise its importance to this economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41999/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I attach huge importance to the food and drink industries exports and their contribution to our economic recovery. Agri food exports account for 7% of GDP and continue to grow year on year.

My colleague, the Minister for Health, has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation and new EU food information regulations which were adopted by the Council of Health Ministers in December 2011. However, my Department plays an important role in the enforcement of this legislation under service contract to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

Primary responsibility under EU law for the safety and traceability of food placed on the market lies with food business operators. The role of National Competent Agencies is to verify compliance with this requirement. This is done via a combination of inspecting establishments and auditing the food safety management systems which operators have in place. These controls are applied at different stages in the food supply chain.Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002 sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law and stipulates that food business operators must, at all stages of production, processing and distribution within their business, ensure food law requirements are satisfied. In regard to traceability, the regulations require that food business operators have systems to identify any person who supplies the business with a food, and a system to identify other businesses to which their product has been supplied. This is referred to as the ‘one step forward, one step backward’ traceability system. There are additional requirements for certain fishery and aquaculture products under the Control Regulation (Regulation 1224/2009 and Implementing Regulation 404/2011) from first sale to subsequent stages of production, processing and distribution up to retail.

My Department has a permanent veterinary presence at all its approved slaughter plants. Controls at plants only engaged in secondary processing are carried out at a frequency based on an annual risk assessment. An annual audit of imported products is carried out in each Department-approved plant, including checks on physical identity, labelling and documentary checks for product originating in EU Member States and third countries. Labelling and documentary checks are routinely conducted by the Department.

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 Member States in the first instance, and audited by the European Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO), to ensure compliance with all of the relevant food safety standards. The legislation imposes health and supervisory requirements designed to ensure that imported products meet standards equivalent to those required for production and trade between Member States. Border Inspection Posts are operated by my Department. Import control procedures on products of animal and fish origin are highly prescriptive and strictly audited by the FVO to ensure compliance. Inspection finding reports are published on the FVO’s website.