Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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848. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the enhanced controls in place on carcase trimming in meat factories; if processors have introduced a payment to affected farmer suppliers to reflect losses incurred as a result of excessive trimming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1691/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Carcase classification and carcase presentation controls in slaughter plants are carried out by a dedicated team of specialist staff in the Beef Carcase Classification Section within my Department.

Additional monitoring of carcase presentation by my Department’s veterinary public health inspection staff (VPHIS) in the factories is currently being implemented in all factories since January 1^st, 2019 and will provide a supporting role for the Beef Carcass Classification staff. This should provide further assurance to stakeholders that the appropriate dressing specification is being applied in factories. The controls applied in Ireland are significantly in excess of those required under EU Law.

From January 2019, Meat Industry Ireland has confirmed that processors will introduce a payment to the farmer supplier to reflect any loss, in each case where my Department applies a fine on a particular carcase for non-compliance with the carcase trim specification. Such a payment will be identified on the payment remittance docket, so that farmers will be aware of the penalty.