Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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168. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects markets for agricultural exports to grow throughout the EU or elsewhere with particular reference to the need to replace ground lost arising from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24415/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Developing increased third country market access and furthering trade opportunities around the world are both integral parts of my Department’s response to the challenges posed by Brexit. 

These goals are aligned with the strategic market development theme of Food Wise 2025, which outlines the significant opportunities for growth of our agri-food exports to new and emerging markets, particularly in Asia, Africa, the Americas and the Gulf region. 

My Department has been, and continues to be, very active in securing access to new third country markets for Irish food companies. To that end, our food and drink exports have greatly increased in recent years. Total Irish agri-food exports came to €14.5 billion in 2019, an increase of 6% on 2018. Bord Bia has indicated that half of this growth has come from markets outside Europe. 

Trade missions play a key role in market and trade advancement.  In recent years, successful visits have taken place to Turkey, China, Japan, South Korea, Algeria and Egypt, among others. Increased market access has been achieved with these visits, including through the abolition of the age restriction on beef exports to Japan, through additional beef plant approvals for export to China and through the progression of beef access in South Korea. Destinations are selected strategically and in keeping with the Bord Bia market prioritisation exercise of December 2017.

The Government's focus on, and commitment to, new market development has been illustrated by its appointment of my colleague, Martin Heydon T.D., as Minister of State with specific responsibility for this task. In addition, my Department's international trade activities are being reorganised and further developed, as we deal with the twin challenges of Brexit and the Covid 19 pandemic. 

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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169. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which continued emphasis is placed on animal health, husbandry and processing with a view to ensuring that the highest possible standards prevail and that Irish products retain pride of place on world markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24416/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The National Farmed Animal Health Strategy 2017-2022 was launched in 2017.  At the Strategy’s heart is the ambition to shift the focus from response to and management of animal disease, to the promotion of animal health as a driver of optimised production, improved margins for producers and providing the best quality food for consumers. The Strategy recommends some 70 strategic actions, which my Department is taking forward.

The Animal Health Surveillance strategy sits within the National Farmed Animal Health Strategy.  The aim of the strategy is to ensure Ireland maintains its international reputation as having a high animal health status whilst improving national on-farm productivity.  State resources and infrastructure are deployed to  enable effective and optimum monitoring and control of existing diseases and to minimise the potential impact for exotic diseases.

Food products placed on the marketplace are covered by a range of legislation designed to ensure that products supplied to consumers are of the highest safety standards.  My Department plays a part in the enforcement of this legislation along with other Government departments and State Agencies such as the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and the Health Service Executive. The FSAI is the body responsible for enforcement of regulations governing traceability, labelling and provision of food information to customers.

Primary responsibility under EU law for the safety and traceability of food placed on the market lies with food business operators. The role of National Competent Authorities is to verify compliance with this requirement. This is done via a combination of inspecting establishments and auditing the food safety management systems which operators have in place. These controls are applied at different stages in the food supply chain. Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002 sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law and stipulates that food business operators must, at all stages of production, processing and distribution within their business, ensure food law requirements are satisfied. In regard to traceability, the regulations require that food business operators have what is referred to as the ‘one step forward, one step backward’ traceability system. There are additional requirements for certain fishery and aquaculture products under the Control Regulation (Regulation 1224/2009 and Implementing Regulation 404/2011) from first sale to subsequent stages of production, processing and distribution up to retail.