Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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902. To ask the Minister for Health the details of Ireland's food improvement plan as required by the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37194/17]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is actively involved in the EU Food Reformulation Project and is represented by my Department on the EU High Level Group on Nutrition and Physical Activity. The EU High Level Group is agreeing EU targets for reformulation of foods and beverages with Member States across Europe.

In line with the relevant actions in the National Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025, a Food Reformulation Working Group is being established and membership is being determined by my Department. Draft terms of reference are being prepared for this technical Group and it is envisaged that it will be convened in the near future.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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903. To ask the Minister for Health when his Department's new voluntary code of practice for food marketing, promotion and sponsorship will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37195/17]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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'A Healthy Weight for Ireland', the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), was launched last September under the Healthy Ireland agenda. The OPAP covers a ten year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy.

I wish to emphasise that every sector of our society has a role in reducing the burden of obesity and the OPAP clearly acknowledges this.

The OPAP prescribes 'Ten Steps Forward' and under each step there are a number of actions, some of which have been identified for early implementation.

Step 3 is to Secure appropriate support from the commercial sector to play its part in obesity prevention. Under this step, a Code of Practice for food and drink promotion, marketing, product placement and sponsorship has been developed by a working group and it will be published shortly.