Vol. 506 No. 6
11 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if the French authorities have furnished any epidemiological reports following the diarrhetic shellfish poisoning outbreak in September 1998; the amount of frozen Irish mussels in storage; and the total loss financially to the shellfish sector. [15975/99]
As I have previously advised the House, a health alert was instituted by the French authorities last Janu ary arising from two apparent outbreaks of illness in September 1998 which were allegedly associated with the consumption of mussels exported from Ireland. The symptoms associated with the alleged outbreaks of illness were reported as being consistent with those caused by diarrhetic shellfish poisoning – DSP. The French authorities indicated that a number of positive results had been obtained from the testing of Irish product for DSP.
My Department, in co-operation with the other relevant State agencies, has been pursuing this matter vigorously with the French authorities and the European Commission, with a view to establishing conclusively the association, if any, of Irish mussels with the alleged outbreaks of illness. Despite numerous requests, however, the French authorities have not to date furnished any epidemiological reports on the events of September 1998. It is of crucial importance for the Irish authorities to be given this information, so that the full facts of the matter can be definitively established. The French authorities are being pressed further at high level to forward the necessary data without delay.
Following the alleged incidents in France, and as a precautionary measure in accordance with normal practice, frozen Irish mussels produced between June and September 1998 were temporarily withdrawn from the market. I stress that Irish mussel exports in live or processed form were not affected.
I am advised that the amount of frozen product withdrawn, primarily in Ireland and France, was some 600 tonnes. As a result of pressure on the French authorities, agreement was reached that batches of the withdrawn product would be released where the Irish Reference Laboratory or an approved French laboratory obtained five negative results in testing for DSP. This testing process is now under way and I understand that more than 150 tonnes of the withdrawn product have been released to date. My Department is, however, continuing to press for sampling of the remaining stocks to be completed as quickly as possible, and decisions on its release taken without delay. Contact will be maintained at all appropriate levels with the French authorities until this matter has been fully and satisfactorily resolved.
It would not be possible, until testing of all withheld product has been completed, to estimate definitively the possible financial losses arising from the health alert, since it is only at that point that the amount of product actually lost to the market can be fully quantified.
Given that the DSP outbreak occurred in September 1998 and was reported in January, does the Minister regard it as a disgrace that an EU partner such has France has not to date given an epidemiological report on the outbreak, casting disrepute on Irish produce? This industry is worth £40 million and exports 80 per cent of its produce. Will the Minister lead the way, at the request of the aquaculture industry, and establish a molluscan safety committee to ensure progress is made in food safety?
The answer to that is, yes. I share the Deputy's concern. I consider it essential that all facts about alleged incidents of this kind are made available without delay. The length of time we have been waiting for the epidemiological reports is not acceptable. I assure the Deputy that my Department has been pressing the French authorities and EU fora to have this information provided. The matter will continue to be pressed until all relevant data have been made available.
I am in constant contact – almost daily – with the French authorities through my officials. One of my senior officials will meet the French authorities again tomorrow. Two weeks ago I met representatives of the industry, a week ago I met representatives of the Fisheries Research Centre and I have also met both at the same time because we can resolve this problem if we all work together. The missing piece of the jigsaw is the report the French should have passed to us. If it takes political action to resolve the issue, that is what will happen.
I accept the Minister's response. I am sure if a similar situation happened in this State and the French were looking for information, we would have responded long ago. When does the Minister hope to establish the molluscan safety committee?
I agree this problem is serious. I will treat the matter in an urgent manner.
