Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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480. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to legally define the use of the term "free range pork" to provide assurance to both producers and consumers. [7164/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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While many small to medium sized pig herds operate outdoor systems very successfully, free range pig production is not carried out on a large scale in this county.

The term "free range" is legally defined for eggs and poultry meat under EU legislation. Only these two types of food can be called free range and only where they meet the requirements set out for use of this term in the relevant legislation which include rules around access to open-air runs, vegetation, stocking density and housing. Poultry and eggs that carry a free range label must have been produced in registered establishments complying with these legislative requirements.

However, there may be foods on the market labelled as free range which conform with voluntary standards albeit without a legal basis for doing so. Bord Bia’s Pigmeat Quality Assurance Scheme (QAS) which sets out the requirements for best practice of pig production at farm level contains an additional requirement for free range farmed pigs. The scheme ensures, for both consumers and retailers, that Irish pigmeat is produced to the highest standards at primary production level. The scheme is open to all producers who have a valid National Pig Identification and Tracing Scheme herd number.