Vol. 487 No. 7
211 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the results, if any, of the investigation into a company (details supplied) which was selling meat door to door in Galway; if the country of origin of the beef offered for sale has been established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5106/98]
Following reports in January that beef was being sold door to door from vans in the Galway area, inspectors of my Department visited a premises in County Galway on 16 January to interview the owner. The owner claimed that the beef was of Brazilian origin and was imported via the UK. A detention notice in respect of the beef and other frozen meat, i.e., lamb and poultry, found on the premises was served on the owner pending further investigations.
A detailed examination of the documents which accompanied the beef to Ireland and of the circumstances surrounding the importation provided no evidence of the origin of the beef, which was packed in unmarked boxes. Examination of the documents accompanying the other meat consignments revealed that the import conditions, and in particular the requirement that the establishment of origin be EU approved, were not complied with. Consequently, inspectors of my Department visited the premises again on 20 January and seized and removed all of the meat from the premises. In addition, the importer was instructed to recall any meat which had been distributed to customers. The meat is currently stored under the control of my Department while the question of prosecution proceedings against the importer is being examined.
