Vol. 395 No. 8
14 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is satisfied with the extent to which packaged foods are date-stamped and have labels giving the full particulars of the contents thereof; the improvements, if any, he proposes to secure in this regard; when such measures will be taken; the manner in which they will be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
19 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the number of inspections by the Consumer Affairs Office which revealed many cases of incorrect labelling of food products in a number of shops and multiple stores, especially in relation to the use of buy or sell by dates, he intends to take any steps to protect consumers against such practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 19 together.
The information given on the labels of foodstuffs is governed by the European Communities (Labelling, Presentation and Advertising of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 1982. These regulations require that specified details be given on foodstuffs such as name of the food, net quantity, list of ingredients, "best before" date and name and address of man-ufacturer-seller. Failure to give any of the details required is an offence.
Enforcement of these regulations and a decision to prosecute for non-compliance are the responsibility of the Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade, who is independent in the performance of his functions, or the health boards.
Is the Minister aware that there has been an increasing number of cases of inaccuracy in food labelling? Has he a report on that matter from the Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade and does he propose to do anything about that?
The director made a speech last October in which he referred to a survey his staff made of the branches of three multiples — I suppose multiple supermarkets — where the results so far as food labelling and enforcement were concerned were not satisfactory. In the three stores concerned he found a total of 94 products with incorrect labelling. He wrote to the enterprises involved listing the breaches and warning of more drastic action in the event of any further breach. The response was gratifying. All the enterprises passed on his comments to the suppliers involved, and sometimes to other suppliers, with the result that he was inundated with telephone calls and inquiries from anxious suppliers, more than 150 in all, who were anxious to comply with the requirements.
Will the Minister not agree that the response may be gratifying but that an offence was committed by the multiples concerned? Were prosecutions brought as an example to other multiples to warn them off? Is the Minister aware that, while most products are compliant with the law as outlined by the Minister, still very many food products do not carry the full measure of information required under EC law? What consultation has the Minister had with the Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade to ensure that the law is complied with and food labelling is carried out in as widespread a manner as is required? Is he doing anything to extend enforcement in this regard?
I cannot say whether there were prosecutions in these three cases. From the tone of what the director has said my guess is that probably there were not, that he issued warnings. The question of a prosecution is entirely a matter for the director, who is independent in the exercise of his functions in this regard. I have discussed this and other matters with the director and he is anxious to do all he can to ensure that these regulations are enforced fully. He suffers from a shortage of resources and he is not as free to enforce all of these things as widely as he would like. I am sure, if he takes some prosecutions for this now, he has issued a warning and it will have the desired effect.
Will the Minister agree that a good many consumers are being cheated by the practice referred to here and that in an area like dairy produce, which has a high incidence of the practice we are complaining about, it could even be dangerous? Therefore, is the European regulation adequate and ought it not be made specifically unlawful to offer for sale products so mislabelled or arguably dangerous to health?
It is specifically unlawful so to do.
Will the Minister agree that it is important that we support bodies such as the Consumers Association of Ireland to assist whenever statutory bodies are engaged in this field? Will he agree that his grant of £1,000 to the Consumers Association of Ireland towards their running costs is derisory and that we should cherish having an association who act as a protector and a guardian of consumers' rights somewhat on a voluntary basis?
The Deputy's supplementary has nothing whatsoever to do with either Question No. 14 or Question No. 19.
As the Minister was candid enough to concede that the Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade is hindered in carrying out his functions in as full and ample a manner as would be desirable, will he make arrangements with the Government, the Minister for Finance or whoever to ensure that adequate staff are made available and authorised for that office?
I have been making efforts in that regard for some time.
Unsuccessfully.
