Vol. 542 No. 5
156 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he is satisfied that slaughter factories are not importing carcasses and presenting the carcasses for export as Irish produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24801/01]
Under EU beef labelling regulations introduced in September 2000, operators involved in the production or marketing of beef are obliged to label that beef with a reference code to enable the beef be traced back to the animal or group of animals from which it was derived, the approval number of the slaughterhouse and member state or third country in which it is located, and the approval number of the cutting plant and member state or third country in which it is located.
It is possible, although not the norm, for the factories to import carcases for deboning subject to their being accompanied by appropriate veterinary certification. In any such case, the law requires the factory to state on its labelling the member state or third country where the animal was slaughtered in addition to stating that the beef was deboned in this country.
Export factories are supervised by veterinary officials of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and are subject to ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance with this labelling requirement. I am satisfied that the provisions outlined are fully controlled.
