Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 November 2004
25 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the details of her knowledge regarding the shortcomings in relation to the traceability of meat products being imported into Ireland in view of the strict standards on hormones which do not operate elsewhere; and the action she will take to address this issue in the EU, WTO and elsewhere. [29371/04]
View answerAs a member of the European Union and the World Trade Organisation, Ireland is in a position to avail of trade opportunities and is obliged to respect the obligations membership of such organisations may bring. To minimise any risks that might be associated with trade with third countries there are harmonised rules governing the importation of animal products such as meat.
It is a general requirement that animal products imported in the EU from third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between, EU member states. All meat imports must therefore come from third countries or areas of third countries approved for export to the EU. The food and veterinary office carries out audits of the controls in place in third countries.
In order to be an approved third country a country must appear on a list drawn up and updated on the basis of EU audits and guarantees given by the competent authority of the exporting country; have veterinary controls equivalent to those applicable in the EU, particularly in terms of legislation, hygiene conditions, animal health status, zoonosis controls and other food law; and submit a residues monitoring plan that demonstrates that their controls regarding prohibited substances and veterinary medicines generally are equivalent to those in the member states of the EU. In some countries so called "split production systems" exist whereby animals reared for export and for slaughter for export to the EU come from herds that have not been given substances that have been banned in the EU.
The FVO carries out inspections to ensure that only establishments that meet hygiene and health standards equivalent to those operating within the EU are approved. Exporting establishments must have standards equivalent to the requirements for EU export establishments, effective control systems and supervision by the competent authorities and traceability/labelling in accordance with the systems approved by the FVO and accepted and notified to the EU member states.
Consignments from third countries must first be landed at a border inspection post or BIP that has been approved by the FVO and must undergo documentary, identity and physical checks. These checks are carried out at frequencies laid down in EU law. In Ireland, BIPs approved for the processing imports of animal products are located at Dublin Port and Shannon Airport. Imported meat must be accompanied by the appropriate commercial documentation showing country and approval number of the establishment of production and a health certificate conforming to the models set down in EU legislation. The meat must also be labelled.
The FVO carries out monitoring and inspection of each member state's BIPs to ensure the conditions for import of animal products into Europe, provided under the harmonised legislation, are being correctly applied. Where there are concerns with regard to the effectiveness of controls being operated in an approved third country the EU Commission, in consultation with the standing committee on animal health and the food chain, may introduce specific controls by means of a safeguard measure to ensure the protection of human and animal health. Safeguard measures limiting or banning the export of animal products from EU countries or regions of countries may also be implemented where, for example, the conditions of an animal disease outbreak could seriously effect production and trade in animal products in the EU.
