Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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177. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position of Ireland in respect of draft EU origin labelling legislation. [18488/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In 2011 the European Union passed the Food Information to Consumers (FIC), Regulation 1169/2011, which has updated the requirements for consumer information and labelling in a number of areas, and extended mandatory country of origin to meats other than beef.  These measures are designed ensure consumer confidence and ensure traceability is transparent across the EU member states.

Following on from the requirements of the FIC, Commission Regulation No. 1337/2013 introduced mandatory origin labelling for packaged meat products from pigs, poultry, sheep and goats from 1 April 2015.

This provides for mandatory labelling of the Member State or third country of rearing and the Member State or third country of slaughter for these meats. The term ‘Origin’ can also be used where the country/member state of birth is the same as the country of rearing and slaughter. A Statutory Instrument providing for this came into force on 1 April 2015. In relation to the wider role of my Department as it relates to labelling checks, DAFM officers currently carry out labelling checks (incorporating COOL) in slaughter plants and other DAFM approved premises on beef, pigmeat, poultry and sheep under the relevant legislation. 

My colleague, the Minister for Health, has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation and new EU food information regulations which were adopted by the Council of Health Ministers in December 2011. However, my Department plays a  role in the enforcement of this legislation under service contract to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and has worked with the Department of Health in ensuring the necessary Statutory Instrument is in place to cover the labelling of loose pigmeat, poultry meat and sheepmeat inline with the origin labelling rules for packaged meat brought in on April 1st 2015.

We will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure that traceability is clearly articulated to the consumer which will help us to capitalise on Ireland's reputation in international markets as a producer of high quality food.