Vol. 542 No. 5
190 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the impact that good quality Irish beef enjoys on the marketplace; the benefits of the strict criteria and controls in place here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24804/01]
Irish beef is predominantly produced from grass fed cattle, reared in an unpolluted environment and in animal welfare friendly conditions. Allied to this Ireland's BSE controls are among the strictest in the world, having been significantly enhanced in 1996 and 1997. The level and effectiveness of these controls has been recognised by the European Union's scientific steering committee's geographically based risk assessment which classified Ireland as very stable in 1997 and optimally stable – the highest level of stability that is achievable – since 1998. Optimally stable means that all three main stability factors – feeding, rendering and SRM removal – are in place, well controlled, implemented and audited. Very few countries have achieved this high level of stability.
These factors are generally reflected in the range of international markets traditionally supplied by exporters of Irish beef. Following the BSE crisis in Europe late last year, a number of third countries took action to ban the import of European beef in general. The recent decision by the Egyptian authorities in relation to the beef trade indicates the acceptability of the Irish approach to controls in the sector and I am hopeful that other countries will soon follow suit.
