Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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316. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to publish the necessarily-stringent criteria used to appoint a person as a welfare officer to a company handling and-or slaughtering animals; the verification and monitoring processes re same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26912/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has provided the Deputy with the information relating to the criteria for Animal Welfare Officers (AWO’s) to receive Certificates of Competence and the Trader Notices citing the legislative procedures for this in a previous correspondence (Ref 23281/24).

As per Article 17 of my Department does not appoint the AWO, it is the responsibility of the Food Business Operator (FBO) to designate an Animal Welfare Officer. The outlines the role of an Animal Welfare Officer.

An individual must hold a Certificate of Competence to become an Animal welfare officer. My Department’s role with regard to Animal Welfare officers is:

1. Issuing the Certificate of Competence as per
2. Verification that the AWO is carrying out the functions of an AWO as foreseen by EC Regulation 1099/2009. This occurs formally at least twice a year. However there is continuous and ongoing monitoring of animal welfare standards at slaughter plants by officials in my Department on days when slaughtering is taking place.