asked the Minister for Health if rusk meal is permitted to be used in the manufacture of sausages.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sausage Manufacture.
2.
There are no specific statutory controls over the ingredients in a sausage. I understand that rusk meal is one of the normal constituents.
Could the Minister state why there are no statutory controls over the ingredients of sausages?
Investigations have been made by a committee in regard to the possibility of providing standards. At the moment a representative from the three Departments, Industry and Commerce, Health and Agriculture and Fisheries are proceeding to draft the heads for a food standards Bill, but in relation to this we want to keep in line with what is being done in the EEC on the matter. Therefore, it is unlikely that such a Bill would come before the House for some time.
Could the Minister state if he has had any consultations with representatives of the EEC in regard to the contents of this Bill?
I do not think it has reached that stage yet.
Is it not a fact that the Minister's Department refused to apply minimum standards in respect of the meat content of sausages?
The matter was eventually deferred after a long examination of the question. The committee did not go on with the question of compositional standards for sausages, for this raised the whole question of the future departmental responsibility for food standards, and it was felt that the matter should be tackled in globo and not on the basis of dealing with one particular product which was issued to the committee as an experiment, as a try-on. This also related to negotiations we had, the Codex Alimentarius proceedings, for establishing codes in regard to this matter abroad, so between one thing and another the Ministers for the three Departments felt there should be a substantive Bill prepared in regard to it.
Do minimum standards not apply in respect of certain foods?
The Deputy would have to ask a question about this. The legislation is extremely complex and it is one thing I cannot keep in my head.