Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 December 2004
200 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to the fact that abroad there is a clean green image for Irish products; her views on genetically modified food; her plans to preserve Ireland’s clean green image of food production; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31929/04]
View answerThe green image associated with Ireland, successfully promoted by Bord Bia, plays a vital role in the development and promotion of our food industry. In promoting Ireland as the "Food Island", we stake our reputation on producing high quality food, to the highest standards of food safety and traceability. This is the basis for the resounding success that has enabled our food industry to thrive and grow and for real sustainable markets for our agricultural produce.
An EU legislative framework on genetically modified production has been put in place by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers, binding on all member states. This legislation provides for a series of controls along the supply chain to ensure that only food which meets the highest possible levels of safety is produced and marketed. In regard to the growing of genetically modified crops, member states are obliged to draw up strategies and best practices on the basis of Union guidelines to provide for effective co-existence arrangements with non-genetically modified crops. An interdepartmental working group has been set up by the Department of Agriculture and Food to examine this matter.
