Written answers
Tuesday, 4 July 2023
Department of Health
Departmental Meetings
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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637. To ask the Minister for Health the meetings held by his officials from assistant principal level upwards with representatives of the food industry in 2022 and 2023 to date; the dates, attendees and matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32502/23]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Since 1st January 2022 to the present date, three meetings, which included officials of AP Grade or higher, have taken place with representatives of the food industry (see attached table for details).
In addition to these meetings, on 12thMay 2022, the Department of Health, assisted by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland held an event to listen to stakeholders’ views on the EU Commission’s proposed revision of the Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Regulation, which is aimed at better informing consumers so they can make informed decisions in support of a healthy and sustainable diet and the reduction of food waste.
The Department is coordinating the development of an Irish position on the EU’s proposed changes to the FIC Regulation. In this regard, the Department has been working closely with, including for this stakeholder event, the Departments of Agriculture, Food & the Marine; Environment, Climate & Communications; and Enterprise, Trade & Employment, as well as relevant agencies under the remit of the four Departments. This work is ongoing.
In accordance with GDPR guidelines, personal details of individual attendees have not been retained on file.
Department of Health Food Unit meetings with Industry 2022-2023
| Date | Topics for discussion | Attendees | Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-02-2022 | Food Drinks Ireland (FDI) views about the EU Commission’s proposed Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Revision Package. | Department of Health Food Unit: Louise Kissane (Principal Officer); Anne Barry Reidy (Administrative Officer); Caroline Gibbons (Executive Officer); Ursula O'Dwyer (National Health Promotion Policy Advisor, Healthy Ireland); Food Safety Authority of Ireland: Senior Technical Executive, Regulatory Affairs & Compliance Building); Food Drink Ireland (FDI) Prepared Consumer Foods (PCF) Director; PCF, Executive; Irish Beverage Council, Director; Dairy Industry Official; | Virtual |
| 20-06-2022 | FDI views about the FIC Revision Package. | Department of Health Louise Kissane (Principal Officer); Tommy Wilson (AP); Carolyn Phillis (AP); Caroline Gibbons (EO); Ursula O’Dwyer (National Health Promotion Policy Advisor, Healthy Ireland); FDI PCF Director; Regulatory Executive; | In-person |
| 01-06-2023 | 1. Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) 2. Reformulation 3. Responsible Marketing and Advertising | Department of Health Minister Hildegarde Naughton; Paul Melia, Advisor; Louise Kissane, PO (Food Unit); Catherine Curran, AP (Health & Wellbeing Unit); FDI Director; Deputy Director; and Chairperson. | In-person |
| 12-05-2022 | Stakeholder event where representatives from health interest groups, industry and environmental groups discussed the FIC Revision Package. | Industry Groups Represented ·Food Drink Ireland; ·Irish Cooperative Organisation Society; ·Lidl; ·Meat Industry Ireland; ·Drinks Ireland; ·Dunnes Stores; ·Irish Distillers Association; ·Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association; ·Dairy Industry Ireland; ·CAIS - Association of Irish Farmhouse Cheesemakers; ·Musgraves; ·Ornua; ·Irish Farmers Association; | Hybrid |
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