Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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3088. To ask the Minister for Health if she has any plans to develop and implement a national allergy strategy, given the prevalence of food allergies and the level of unmet need for one; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43196/25]

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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3089. To ask the Minister for Health if she will establish a national allergy register to gather data, support research and inform service delivery, as recommended by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43197/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 3088 and 3089 together.

Food safety policy is a priority for my Department, and this is informed by scientific advice from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

It is of note that EFSA has concluded that, while food allergies affect a relatively small proportion of the population, an allergic reaction can be severe, even potentially fatal and that it is increasingly apparent that people with food allergies or intolerances experience a very significant reduction in quality of life.

There are currently no plans to develop a national allergy strategy or national allergen register in the Department of Health. However, I am informed by the FSAI that there are a number of official controls in place in Ireland relating to allergens. In addition, there are several Regulations at EU level setting out the responsibilities of food business operators regarding allergen management and food information.

Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs sets out the general rules for food business operators on the hygiene of foodstuffs. This Regulation was amended in 2021 by Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/382 to introduce specific requirements for good hygiene practices to prevent or limit the presence of substances causing allergies or intolerances.

Regulation EC 178/2002 (General Food Law) provides the legal framework for ensuring food safety and consumer protection within the European Union requiring that foods placed on the market must be safe.

Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 on the provision of Food Information for Consumers (FIC) sets out the general principles and obligations regarding the provision of food information to consumers. This Regulation sets out the requirement to declare the use of 14 food allergens, listed in Annex II, when they have been used in the production and/or processing of foods. For non-prepackaged food, the food allergens must be declared in accordance with S.I. No 489 of 2014 on the Health (Provision of Food Allergen Information to Consumers in respect of Non-Prepacked Food) Regulations 2014.

FSAI has advised that it routinely publishes “Allergen alerts” on its website (www.fsai.ie) and it also facilitates the direct notification of food allergen alerts for consumers who have subscribed through the FSAI website. The FSAI website also contains extensive literature, training material and other information on food allergens for enforcement officers, food businesses and consumers.