Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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264. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps being taken to ensure clear and accurate consumer information on meat products supplied to food service businesses and retail outlets; the oversight mechanisms for verifying origin, labelling and traceability; and the measures in place to prevent consumers being misled about the nature or source of meat products. [68742/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has responsibility for protecting consumers from misleading consumer practices under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 2007.

However, my Department does not have responsibility for the issues raised by the Deputy, namely the oversight mechanisms for verifying origin, labelling and traceability of meat products.

Food labelling and the oversight of these matters generally falls under the remit of the Department of Health, as the Food Safety Authority, FSAI, has this responsibility. In relation to beef labelling this falls under the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The FSAI has a guidance note on their website relating to the labelling of meat (including beef).