I move amendment No. 28:
In page 8, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following subsection:
"(2) The Board shall by order made with the consent of the Minister establish a subsidiary board to be known as The Veterinary Advisory Committee and shall authorise it to exercise any functions on behalf of the Board, relating to quality assurance of meat products and livestock, including animal health and welfare, production systems and distribution and dairy hygiene regulations.".
I alluded to my concerns in this area when the committee considered an earlier section regarding quality assurance. This amendment expands my view on this issue.
The future of An Bord Bia will be intrinsically linked with whatever quality assurance or quality control schemes are put in place. The integrity of the board and its standing among producers, processors and customers generally, at home and abroad, will depend on an accountable quality assurance and quality control system which has the complete confidence of the consumer. Without this, the board is superfluous.
Regarding meat and livestock products, a veterinary input is required. The proposed veterinary advisory committee should be representative of Department vets, local authority vets, the private veterinary sector and, perhaps, others. This would ensure that, generally, the committee would be comprised of veterinary expertise in animal production and processing.
The vets have an important role to play at meat factories in grading and inspecting meat, ensuring that growth promoters are not used and that the withdrawal period is observed for animal medicines and so on before slaughter for consumption. In view of this it is most important, especially for the meat industry, that a system is in place regarding quality assurance that is beyond reproach, transparent, independent and gives complete consumer confidence.
This will be more important in future with the increasing demand by consumers for green products. Indeed, consumer demand can be over and above what is necessary from a health viewpoint, but the consumer's wish must be met.
Following the GATT agreement, with the entry of beef and livestock products from the USA and the different set of rules which apply, we must be able to distinguish premium quality production and stand over our quality assurance system in a way which reassures the customer and gives confidence in the systems operated here.
The proposed veterinary advisory committee will be important in maintaining and ensuring the future of our animal health status. The committee could liaise with the standing veterinary committee located in Brussels regarding the observance of the application of the animal and plant health regulations, and how the animal health regulations impact on food production in this country.
I have serious concerns regarding the importation of exotic diseases since the free movement of animals has been allowed following the Single Market. The importation and certification of animals poses serious questions at present, threatens the health status of our herds and flocks and any quality image which the Minister and An Bord Bia may develop in respect of our food products.
The system is intrinsically linked, as there is a food chain from the producer and the farm gate through to the plate, going through the marts, meat processors, transport and distribution, animal welfare, milk, hygiene regulations, the processing sector and, ultimately, quality guarantees. Given the importance of being able to stand over any quality assurance which the board may decide, and any quality market the board may produce in the future, the board itself must be beyond reproach. In view of this a veterinary advisory committee of the board, acting perhaps as a sub committee is required.