Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 5

Written Answers. - Meat Imports.

John Ellis

Question:

165 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans his Department has to make sure that all meat imports have full traceability; and the procedures he has put in place to ensure that there is full traceability of all meat imports from other EU countries and especially from non-EU countries. [14699/02]

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 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. In light of the recent serious animal disease outbreaks in the UK and the misleading labelling of imported frozen poultry fillets it is clear there is a need to re-examine these controls, and 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 that I will continue to press for a review of the controls in this area as a matter of priority.