Vol. 522 No. 3
17 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps being taken to ensure that all EU laws on the labelling of GM foods are being fully implemented in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14715/00]
My Department is responsible for several EU Regulations pertaining to the labelling of genetically modified foodstuffs, namely, Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients; Council Regulation (EC) No 1139/98 concerning the compulsory indication on the labelling of certain foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms of particulars other than those provided for in Directive 79/112/EEC, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 49/2000 and Regulation (EC) No 50/2000 on the labelling of foodstuffs and food ingredients containing additives and flavourings that have been genetically modified or have been produced from genetically modified organisms.
The labelling requirements as prescribed in these regulations ensure that the final consumer is informed of any characteristic or food property, such as composition, nutritional value or nutritional effects or the intended use of the food, which renders a food or food ingredient no longer equivalent to an existing food or food ingredient.
As the Deputy will be aware, EU regulations are directly applicable to and binding on all member states. However, my Department is currently drafting national provisions to give effect to these regulations and to lay down enforcement powers for authorised officers and to impose penalties for non-observance.
It is intended, in the coming months, to designate the Food Safety Authority of Ireland as the competent authority for these regulations. My Department recently provided funding to the authority for the recruitment of a chief specialist and a technical executive in biotechnology. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland will monitor genetically modified food and food ingredients for compliance with relevant legislation on an on-going basis as part of its regular food surveillance programme.
