Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1027. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on issues concerning lobster fishing here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10053/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Policy considerations concerning the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of non-native species are a matter for the Minister for Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts & the Gaeltacht. In the case of fish or fishery products coming from a non EU country, excluding Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, these must go through an approved Border Inspection Post (BIP) at the first point of entry into the EU where health checks are carried out by official veterinarians of the Department.  The identity and documentation of all products are checked at the first point of entry into the EU and some products are checked physically.

In order to import fish or fishery products into Ireland from a non EU country the person who wishes to import fish/fishery products is required to register with the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA).  The SFPA and the Border Inspection Posts operate an agreed sampling plan, which is reviewed annually, to ensure that they meet the EU criteria with respect to potential contaminants, and for the presence of any medical residues or where there is concern that the product may not be fit for human consumption.  In accordance with EU regulations, the plan is based upon the nature of the products and the risk they represent, taking into account all relevant monitoring parameters such as frequency and number of incoming consignments and results of previous monitoring.

The SFPA was set up by the Oireachtas under the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 as the independent Authority for the implementation of sea-fisheries and seafood law from boat up to but excluding retail level (on fishing vessels, in shellfish production areas, in establishments handling preparing and processing seafood).  The outcomes of the monitoring procedures are an operational matter for the SFPA in which the Department has no direct role.  I have asked the SFPA to provide import figures for live lobster directly to the Deputy.

In terms of disease control for fish or aquaculture animals, EU certification requirements in relation to these animals apply as follows:

- Commission Regulation 1250/2008 – requirements for the import of fishery products, live bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods intended for human consumption or

- Commission Regulation 1251/2008 – conditions and certification requirements for placing on the market and the import into the Community of aquaculture animals and products thereof and laying down a list of vector species.

In these circumstances any aquaculture animals coming in from the US for human consumption or for further farming would come with a certificate issued in line with the relevant regulation. If the relevant certificates were not in place, the animals would be rejected by staff at the BIP. There are presently no aquaculture farms for crustaceans in Ireland.

With regard to labelling of fish, specific provisions concerning consumer information set down in Council Regulation 1379/2013 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products which came into effect in December 2014 and are transposed by S.I. 121 of 2016 – European Union (Labelling of Fishery and Aquaculture Products) Regulations 2016 . Products to which the regulations apply must provide the specified information including the common and scientific names of the fish, the production method (whether the fish is caught or farmed), category of fishing gear for wild fish, whether the fish was defrosted and date of minimum durability where appropriate. The Regulation also requires detailed catch area information for some catch areas (FAO fishing area 27 and FAO fishing area 37), i.e. the name in writing of the sub-area or division listed in the FAO fishing areas, as well as the name of such zone expressed in terms understandable to the consumer, or a map or pictogram showing that zone. Additional information set out in the Regulation, including details of the flag State of the vessel that caught the products, can also be provided on a voluntary basis. The provisions of the Regulation apply in addition to the Food Information Regulation 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to the consumer.