Vol. 514 No. 6
50 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his views on the recently published European White Paper on Food Safety; his views on the threat of withdrawal of EU funding where food safety measures are not up to standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5046/00]
The strategy for food safety contained in the White Paper envisages a comprehensive, coherent approach, which will serve to bolster public confidence in European food safety controls and, as such, will benefit both consumer and producer. This approach is very neces sary in the wake of a number of difficulties in relation to European food in recent years.
The proposals provide for the establishment of an independent European food safety authority, which would have the key tasks of risk assessment and risk communication. Risk management functions are to remain with the member states and will be controlled under a common EU framework. This framework will cover the whole of the food chain including animal feed. It will operate on the principle that responsibility for food safety rests with feed manufacturers, farmers and food manufacturers/operators to ensure traceability from "farm to fork".
Another aspect of the White Paper that I welcome is the enhanced role envisaged for the Food and Veterinary Office which is located in this country. The threat of withdrawal of EU funds to which the Deputy refers, arises in the context of the strengthening of functions of this office. The detail of this proposal has yet to be fully debated and finalised. I would take the view, however, that in order to be fully effective and serve the common good there must be an adequate system of redress and accountability.
Would the Minister agree that it would be more appropriate if the new European model were on the same basis as the FDA model, with stronger regulatory powers and legal implications associated with it, instead of the rather weak model that leaves the responsibility with individual countries, and that a co-ordinated effort across Europe would have been much more appropriate?
This is only in draft at present. We have a new Commissioner dealing with this area in Brussels who has made a number of announcements in connection with that. Ireland was the first country to set up the model to which the Deputy referred, and it is now standard across Europe. It is envisaged that it will be operational in 2002.
In the previous reply and in the reply to this question, the Minister mentioned controls on food production in relation to the Food Safety Authority. Now we are talking about a Europe-wide food safety authority in the new White Paper. In the case of produce coming from the European Union or from third countries, what controls are there in the context of e.coli, dioxins, and so on, risks to which foods are prone at the moment? Has the Minister consulted the European Commissioner in relation to the Beef Assurance Scheme Bill which is currently before the House and which does not seem to include the procedures regarding farm to fork that are being discussed in the White Paper?
Regarding the first part of the Deputy's question, I assure the House that we operate all the EU Directives dealing with food. Europe has very high standards in the food area, some of which are very difficult for producers to operate.
The Beef Assurance Scheme Bill deals with production at farm level. I assure the House, because there seems to be some misunderstanding, that we have the safest food in the world. We have a good environment. We have everything going for us, provided there is no sabotage or irregularities which are not conducive to good practice. There have been scares, but we have not had e.coli 1057, which we have seen in Scotland and America with substantial loss of life. There is an expert to my left in the House – I refer to Deputy Mary Upton who is a microbiologist and very familiar with what I am talking about. Ireland is safe.
The next part of the Deputy's question dealt with Third World imports. There is a level of Third World imports.
Will the Minister outline what will be the relationship between our Food Safety Authority and the proposed European Union overall authority? Are we to have two authorities working in the same area? We went to a great deal of trouble here to establish a food safety authority which is doing extremely well. What will be its relationship with the proposed new European one?
I am not trying to avoid the question, but the Food Safety Authority is a matter for another Department. Veterinary inspectors are employed under a contractual arrangement between the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and the Food Safety Authority of the Department of Health and Children. Many papers have been delivered by the new Commissioner on this whole area, and the European authority is fairly closely modelled on the Irish one which is a very innovative food safety authority. It is currently at a drafting stage and discussions are taking place. I understand it will not be European law until about 2002.
Is the Minister aware that the White Paper on food safety contains a clear plan involving 80 legislative measures? What input will we have into those? How will our Food Safety Authority gel with the promised European food authority in the provision of scientific risk assessment?
Would it not be appropriate to ensure that the European food authority will have the necessary legislative power to arbitrate on scientific disputes between member states, particularly, in disputes relating to the ingredients in foods that are crossing borders? Would it not be a sensible procedure to ensure that those bodies work in harmony? A plethora of bodies is not the solution.
Is the Minister going to answer?
As the time for Priority Questions is up, I am calling the next question, Question No. 51.
Is there no way we can change the rules of this House? It is a waste of time asking questions.
That is up to Members. Any questions should be referred to the Members' own committee.
If the Chair allows a question, he should allow the answer.
The rules do not state that.
