Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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202. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he will strongly oppose the use of acid washes such as peroxyacetic acid for poultry meat in upcoming discussions with other European Union member states in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed-Section Biological Safety of the Food Chain; to advise what he knows and intends regarding this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45065/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The subject of acid washes for poultry meat forms part of a package of proposals by the European Commission on decontamination of poultry carcasses and ‘skin-on’ parts from Campylobacter. This is currently the subject of discussion with Member State veterinary experts at the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed-Section Biological Safety of the Food Chain (SCPAFF). Ireland’s position is that the use of such substances should be viewed as a last resort where all other interventions, including sanitary dressing, fail to address the campylobacter levels on poultry carcasses, and we would also support the broader and more holistic approach of enhanced bio-hazard controls at farm level.

In relation to Campylobacter in poultry, I recently established a working group chaired by Dr Pat Wall to look at issues across the entire supply chain and set targets accordingly. The group includes representatives from industry and retailers who aim to be proactive and deal with the issue at source and to look collectively at potential solutions, with support from the FSAI and DAFM. I expect this group to report in 2016.