Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 4

Written Answers. - Food Industry.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

66 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has had discussions with EU Commissioner, David Byrne, regarding his proposal for harmonised food and feed controls on an EU basis to be overseen by the Commission's Food and Veterinary Office. [4968/02]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

I presume the Deputy is referring to the European Commission's proposal for a regulation on official food and feed controls. Discussions on this proposal are progressing at a technical level and experts from my Department are participating in ongoing working party meetings. I have not had direct discussions with Commissioner Byrne on the subject.

The overall objective of the proposal, which I support, is to develop a clearer, more systematic approach to the monitoring of controls carried out by the competent authorities in member states and third countries exporting to the Community in the following four broad areas: the implementation of Community legislation by member states on the production of food, plants and animals within the Community; the application of Community requirements by third countries in their own territory in relation to products they export to the Community; the implementation by member states of import controls on food, animals and plants at point of entry into the Community; and the application of sanctions where member states or third countries are not acting in compliance with Community legislation.