Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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388. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of the checking and authentication of the background of all food and food products with particular reference to the meat sector with a view to ensuring that all such imports are of the highest standard in terms of production, husbandry and hygiene; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27388/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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389. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent of various meat products, beef, lamb, pig meat and poultry imported in each of the past three years to date; if the countries of origin have standards on par with the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27389/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 and 389 together.

The table below shows the level of imports of the meats according to CSO trade statistics, which are available up to Feb 2021

Meat Imports Jan and Feb 2021

Food products placed on the European marketplace are covered by a range of legislation designed to ensure that products supplied to consumers are of the highest safety standards. The Department plays a part in the enforcement of this legislation along with Competent Authorities in other Member States, other Irish Government departments and State Agencies such as the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and the Health Service Executive.

The import of products of animal origin from third countries is governed by a comprehensive and robust legislative framework laid down at EU level, controlled by Member States in the first instance, and audited by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Food Safety to ensure compliance with all of the relevant food safety standards.The legislation imposes health and supervisory requirements designed to ensure that imported products meet standards equivalent to those required for production and trade between Member States. Imports from EU member states of course also adhere to the same strict standards in terms of quality and are subject to strict control procedures.

Veterinary checks are carried out by staff from the Department on consignments of foods of animal origin imported from third countries at designated Border Control Posts. All such consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks in addition to physical checks. This includes sampling of products, are carried out according to European regulations. Import control procedures on products of animal and fish origin are highly prescriptive and are strictly audited by the Directorate to ensure compliance. Inspection finding reports are published on the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety’s website.

This comprehensive and robust legislative framework and the checks carried out by the relevant competent authorities across EU member states ensure that imports met the requisite standards.