Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 5

Written Answers. - Meat Imports.

Paul McGrath

Question:

209 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will detail the volume by weight of (i) beef (ii) lamb-mutton and (iii) pork-bacon imports into this country for each of the past five years; and if these meats were subsequently re-exported or if they were retailed or processed here. [25665/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development

(Mr. Walsh): The statistics on meat imports in recent years are as follows:

Product	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
	MT	MT	MT	MT	MT
Beef	39,062	12,925	13,902	12,037	7,638
Lamb-Mutton	472	1,069	1,434	1,795	1,481
Pork-Bacon	15,537	19,553	18,142	22,058	22,280

Information on the re-export or further retailing of imported products is not readily available. However, it is possible to trace the origin of imported processed products by the health mark that must include the initials of the exporting member state-third country and the approval number of the consigning establishment on each sealed package. The marking must be with a health mark in accordance with the requirements of Council Directive No. 71/118/EEC.