Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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354. To ask the Minister for Health the mechanism through which he sought advice on public health and consumer interests in the area of food safety and hygiene before the establishment of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47752/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Prior to the establishment of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), the Food Safety Advisory Board provided advice to the Minister for Health on food related issues.  The functions of the Food Safety Advisory Board were:

(a) to organise and administer a service for obtaining and assessing information as regards the safety of food,

(b) to organise and administer a service for obtaining and assessing information as regards zoonotic diseases,

(c) to advise the Minister of developments in domestic and European law relating to food,

(d) to advise the Minister on matters relating to food with particular reference to nutrition,

(e) to coordinate scientific cooperation with other European Union Member States in accordance with Council Directive 93/5/EEC,

(f) if requested by the Minister, to consider and report to him or her on arrangements to be made:

- for ensuring that the control of food processing and handling is compatible with accepted safety standards,

- for the registration and inspection of premises carrying on a food business,

(g) to undertake such other tasks as are consistent with its remit which the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the Minister for the Marine may require,

(h) to consider and report to the Minister on such general matters in regard to food safety and nutrition as he or she may refer to the Board for advice.

The Board consisted of sixteen persons appointed by the Minister having a knowledge and experience of food safety, nutrition and consumer requirements.

SI No. 523/1997 - The Food Safety Advisory Board (Revocation) Order, 1997, which came into effect on 1st January 1998, transferred functions, property, rights, etc. to the FSAI.