Vol. 539 No. 1
184 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the extent to which meat or meat products are imported; if he has satisfied himself regarding the animal health regimes and disease eradication programmes in the countries from whence these products originate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19008/01]
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 can assure the Deputy that I have made my views on this issue clear to my European colleagues and that I will continue to press for a review of the controls in this area as a matter of priority.
185 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if meat or meat products or feed compounds are imported which might pose a threat to Ireland's animal health status with particular reference to the meat industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19009/01]
The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with its trade obligations as a member of the European Union and the World Trade Organisation, Ireland is obliged to accept imports of animal based products, 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. More specifically, in the context of the BSE crisis, a number of EU regulations were introduced this year banning the importation of feeding stuffs intended for farm animals which contain certain forms of animal protein, and in Ireland we have also banned the feeding of swill to farmed animals.
