Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2004
9 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress he has made with respect to improvements in the labelling of foodstuffs since 1 January 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[14746/04]
View answerThe food labelling group established in July 2002 reported in December 2002, making a series of recommendations. We accepted the recommendations and because food labelling is a particularly complicated and broad based area, involving a number of Departments and Government agencies, we set up an interdepartmental and agency group to progress the implementation of the report.
In December 2002, responsibility for food labelling was as follows. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment had policy responsibility for the main legislation for the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs under the European Council Directive 2000/13/EC and the Director of Consumer Affairs was responsible for the enforcement of that directive. The Department of Health and Children was responsible for policy on other food labelling legislation such as nutrition claims and novel foods, with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland having responsibility for enforcement of the legislation. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources was responsible for the policy on labelling of fish and fish products with the FSAI again responsible for enforcement and the Department of Agriculture and Food was responsible for policy on legislation for the labelling of specific products ranging from beef, poultry and sugar to spirit drinks, coffee and fruit juices, with the FSAI responsible for the enforcement of the beef labelling regulations and the health boards operating the controls on the other products under the general aegis of the Department of Agriculture and Food.
I am very happy with the progress that has been made to date on the implementation of the recommendations in the labelling report. There was a total of 21 recommendations, many of which are beyond the remit of the Department and some of which were to be activated only after others had been completed. It will take some time to fully implement all the recommendations of the report.
The two main issues that emanated from the recommendations of the labelling group were centralising enforcement in one agency and the definition of origin. Enforcement of all of the food labelling regulations has been centralised in the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. This will not only streamline the enforcement measures, but will also provide a one-stop-shop for any complaints on mislabelling of food. The centralisation of food labelling policy enforcement — except on fish — in the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Agriculture and Food achieves another recommendation of the food labelling group.
I was struck by the number of different bodies responsible for labelling which were referred to in the Minister of State's comprehensive reply. I acknowledge his reference to the centralisation of control in the Department of the Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Department of Health and Children and of enforcement in the Food Safety Authority. However, a submission was made yesterday to the Committee on Enterprise and Small Business during which the issue of incorrectly labelled imported food was raised. Is it within the Minister of State's remit to introduce legislation which ensures that one can see where a product was produced and what is in it simply by examining the label? While I acknowledge that food processing is complicated, many manufacturers operate a policy of deception with their products. Can we make one body responsible for everything, be it fish or fowl?
We have reduced the huge plethora of organisations involved and centralised responsibility in the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. There was full agreement within the food labelling group that consumers had a right to information on the origin of the meat they cook in their homes and eat when dining out. While the group could not agree on how origin should be defined, there was unanimous agreement that further research was necessary to establish consumers' wishes in this area. At our request, the consumer liaison panel has carried out this research, the results of which were presented to me in December 2003. We are determined, in so far as it is within the powers available to us, to meet the wishes of consumers identified in the research.
At the beginning of this year, we introduced two regulations on the labelling of poultry meat. The first of these regulations requires poultry meat, whether loose or pre-packaged, which originates outside the EU to bear an indication of the country of origin when offered for sale in a retail premises. The second regulation requires information about class, price per unit weight, condition and slaughterhouse details in respect of loose poultry meat to be provided to the consumer. In addition to the above action, we have arranged that each sector will be reviewed on a commodity-by-commodity basis to identify any deficiencies from a consumer viewpoint in labelling regulations. Further action will be taken over the coming period in other commodity areas. EU beef labelling regulations on origin do not apply to beef sold in food service outlets. The European Commission published a review of these regulations at the end of April.
The report does not favour the extension of these regulations to the catering sector. However, whether they are purchasing beef over the counter in butcher's shops or supermarkets or opting for beef in restaurants and catering establishments, consumers have a right to know the origin of a product. The labelling regulations should provide for this. There is a gap which needs to be addressed. We arranged to have the European Commission report discussed at the EU special committee on agriculture meeting in Killarney last week under the Irish Presidency. The meeting was chaired by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Walsh. In addition, we will press this matter when the Commission report comes before the Agriculture and Fisheries Council following preparation by the special committee.
I emphasise that our primary aim is to protect consumer interests and ensure the consumer is properly informed. Ireland is a major exporter of food and food products and the destination of a considerable volume of food imports. It is imperative that the same standards are applied to the labelling of foods in every sector and that there is a level playing field for the food industry at all levels. We hope to achieve this through the implementation in as full a manner as possible of the recommendations of the food labelling group. We hope to have ensured the further consideration of this matter before the Presidency concludes.
I thank the Minister of State for his extensive answer. No detail was left out. I hope he will forgive me for saying that it reminded me a little of food labelling. To identify ingredients, country of origin etc. from a label requires a magnifying glass. At the next meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, will the Minister of State suggest that simplification would enhance the information for the consumer? While I appreciate that there are technical and legal matters which must be addressed, complicated information is often included to confuse. It adds nothing to consumer information.
It is important to ensure the consumer knows exactly what he or she is buying. We have had numerous instances of products which contained genetically modified components which were not declared on labels. We have had health supplements which were irradiated, but that was not declared on the labels. We are tracking these products like Inspector Clouseau and it is a huge waste of time. Labels must be simplified and made more accessible to consumers and exporters.
I agree with Deputies Timmins and Upton. We must simplify these issues for consumers irrespective of the level at which a product is purchased or consumed. We will do our utmost to establish a consensus across Europe to achieve that simplification. Labels and logos must be clear, precise, simple and focused. To find common agreement among the countries involved is not an easy task. While we will do our utmost in this regard, we must ensure that we protect our consumers and our great export market.
