Vol. 517 No. 3
9 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 107 of 7 March 2000, when he expects the EU wide rules will be introduced; the interim measures he will take to ensure that specific risk material does not enter food chains via imported products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9927/00]
Ireland has consistently supported the introduction of EU wide specified risk material (SRM) removal rules. Despite a number of attempts by the EU Commission to have its Decision 97/534/EC implemented in all member states and thereby have a common EU wide legal framework affirmed and put in place, there has not been sufficient support and the issue remains outstanding. Conscious of the need to protect consumer health within their own territories, a majority of member states have put in place comprehensive SRM removal policies on a unilateral basis. Ireland was one of the first member states to take action in this area in early 1997 and has fully implemented the provisions of Decision 97/534/EC.
With regard to the date for the implementation of EU wide rules, the matter is still under technical discussion and will come before the Council of Ministers before 1 July. In the meantime, Ireland is one of the eight member states with SRM rules already in place and may be joined shortly by a ninth. In the absence of EU common SRM rules, it is not legally possible for one member state to proceed unilaterally and prevent trade in a product that is legally produced in another member state.
Does the Minister of State agree that it makes somewhat of a mockery of our food safety procedures if we import products that may contain SRM while banning that material from our home produced products? Is the consumer informed of the possibility of SRM in various imported foods?
I do not agree with the Deputy that we are importing products containing SRM materials because of the strict veterinary requirements which are in place. I will come back to the Deputy on her second question when I receive the information required.
Is bovine sheep and goat SRM material banned in either home produced or imported products?
The countries with a ban in place include the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal and Denmark. I understand Sweden is about to introduce a similar ban.
If we import products from European countries where SRM is permitted in food, surely it is true that the consumer is unaware of that fact.
I share the Deputy's concerns and will report back to her when I receive the information she requires.
