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Food Safety Authority Inspections

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Questions (684)

Heather Humphreys

Question:

684. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Food Safety Authority of Ireland carry out routine checks on poultry imports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5245/13]

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Written answers

All consignments of products of animal origin imported into Ireland from third countries are checked at a Border Inspection Post (BIP) on arrival in Ireland. There are two product BIPs in Ireland, at Dublin port and Shannon airport, operated by my Department. These enforcement activities form part of my Department’s service contract with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Controls on imported products consist of three types of checks – documentary, identity and physical. All consignments have a documentary and identity check and a proportion of products as laid down in legislation are subject to physical checks. Other appropriate checks apply in cases where it is suspected that legislation has not been complied with or there is some other doubt about the consignment.

EU law provides for the free movement of goods between Member States. On that basis, meat and meat products produced in an establishment which is approved under relevant regulation can be moved freely within the EU. The onus of compliance with EU food safety regulations, including traceability requirements, rests in the first instance with food business operators. Food business operators in Ireland are responsible for carrying out checks to ensure that their ingredients come from approved plants. In meat plants that operate under the supervision of my Department my officials conduct audits on these checks to verify their effectiveness.

An annual audit of imported products is carried out in each Department approved meat plant. The audit includes physical identity, labelling and documentary checks. This includes product originating both in EU Member States and third countries. In addition, labelling and documentary checks form part of the routine checks conducted by Department officials. The Department maintains a permanent presence in approved slaughter plants. Regular visits are made to other Department approved meat plants. The frequency of these visits is determined by an annual risk assessment which is conducted for each plant.

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