Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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503. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-compliance cases in regard to carcase trim specifications, that inspectors have identified in beef plants each month from January 2018 to date; the name of the plants involved; the amounts of the payments made to individual farmers supplying the animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47844/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In 2018, my Department conducted almost 550 unannounced, on-the-spot inspections in 32 factories on classification and carcase presentation. There were an average of 18 inspections per factory which significantly exceeds the legal minimum requirement of 8 inspections per year.At each inspection, 85 carcases on average are checked.

In 2018, non-compliance was identified in 3 factories where a total of 19 carcasses were deemed non-compliant. In December 2018, my Department published on their website the names of the factories involved.

To date in 2019, there has been non-compliance found with the carcase trim specification in relation to three carcases in a single plant. An on-the spot fine was issued in relation to this incident. Details of this non-compliance will be published on the Department's website in December.

Any payments made to a Farmer Supplier, including in relation to issues such as this, are a matter between the Farmer/Supplier and the Processor/plant.