Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 4

Written Answers. - Import Requirements.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

65 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has satisfied himself that all meat or meat products imported here are subject to the same traceability requirements that apply here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14186/02]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

My Department has arrangements in place at main ports and airports to check compliance with the relevant import requirements as specified under EU legislation. The general conditions which apply to imports are as follows: the meat products must have been prepared and stored in an approved establishment, that is the processing plant-cold store, which has been allocated an approval number; and the meat products must be marked with a health mark containing the initials of the exporting country and the approval number of the consigning establishment within an oval surround.

The consignment must also be accompanied to destination by the following: a commercial document which must bear, in addition to the health mark described above, a code number by which the competent authority responsible for supervising the establishment of origin can be identified if sourced from an establishment within the European Community; or in respect of imports from third countries, a health certificate conforming to model certificates as set down in EU legislation and issued by the competent authority at the time of loading and which has been signed by an official veterinarian of the competent authority of the exporting third country; and, in the case of products containing meat derived from bovine animals slaughtered the United Kingdom, a health certificate which has been signed by an official veterinarian of the competent authority stating that the products conform to the relevant conditions laid down in Council Decision 98/256/EC concerning emergency measures to protect against BSE.

In respect of bovine meat products additional labelling requirements apply under EU legislation requiring the compulsory labelling of beef at all stages of production and marketing up to and including the final point of sale to the consumer. The legislation was introduced in two stages. The first stage, which entered into force on 1 September 2000, requires operators or organisations to label beef with the following information: a reference number or code which enables the beef to be traced back to an animal or group of animals from which the 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 deboning hall and member state or third country in which it is located.

The second stage which came into effect on 1 January requires the following additional compulsory indication of the origin of the animal or group of animals from which the beef has been derived: the member state or third country where the animal was born; the member state or third country where the animal was fattened; and the member state or third country where the animal was slaughtered.

In the case of restaurants, compulsory beef labelling requirements apply up to and including the sale of beef to the restaurant itself. This ensures that the proprietor of a restaurant has all the relevant information concerning the origin and production of the beef he has purchased and that he can provide traceability of the product should an issue of public health concern arise.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

66 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has satisfied himself that the highest standards in terms of health and traceability apply in relation to countries from whence beef, pork, poultry, lamb or sheep meat is imported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14187/02]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

Ireland imports an extensive range of meat and meat products from other member states of the EU and third countries. In accordance with its trade obligations as a member of the EU 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. In light of the recent serious animal disease outbreaks in the UK and the misleading labelling of imported frozen poultry fillets it is clear that there is a need to re-examine these controls. It is also clear that the European Commission needs to refocus 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.