Vol. 556 No. 5
53 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the compulsory labelling of all food products to indicate country of origin, further to such a call from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20829/02]
I established the food labelling group in July this year to examine issues relating to the labelling of food, including the issue of origin. I was anxious to ensure that consumers get the most comprehensive information possible on the food supply, thereby enabling them to exercise their rights when making choices about which food products to buy. The expert group, which has 19 members, is widely representative of all the major stakeholders in the food chain, including the FSAI, and has been examining these issues since its inaugural meeting on 29 August. The group is on course to complete its report by the end of the month. I expect that the report will include recommendations on compulsory labelling of origin within the EU legislative framework.
