Vol. 539 No. 1
178 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the amounts of poultry meat, beef, lamb, pig meat, including wild boar, and venison imported in the past three years; if he has satisfied himself that the strictest animal health regimes prevail in the countries from whence these products came; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19002/01]
The provision of statistical information on the importation of the various products specified by the Deputy is a function of the Central Statistics Office. I have asked the Central Statistics Office to forward the information directly to the Deputy.
Ireland imports an extensive range of meat and meat products from other member states of the EU and from third countries. In accordance with its trade obligations as a member of the European Union and the World Trade Organisation, Ireland is obliged to accept these imports provided they comply with harmonised EU control measures governing veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable to intra-community and third country trade.
These measures constitute an essential control on the importation of animal products from third countries. However, in light of the recent serious animal disease outbreaks in the UK of classical swine fever and foot and mouth disease, it is clear that there is a need to re-examine these controls, and that the European Commission needs to re-focus its attention to some extent, on the potential threat to animal and human health from third country imports.
I have made my views on this issue clear to my European colleagues and I will continue to press for a review of the controls in this area as a matter of priority.
