Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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1035. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the tonnage of live American lobster imported and subsequently exported to the European Union under the label of Irish lobsters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10089/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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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 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).  I have asked the SFPA to provide available figures directly to the Deputy. 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.