Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 February 2013
204. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if EU-wide regulation of the meat industry will include compulsory DNA testing carried out by the relevant authorities in each State; if this testing will be carried out on an unannounced inspection basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9258/13]
View answerFollowing my meeting with 8 EU Ministers and Commissioner Borg in Brussels on 13th February, in relation to the ongoing issue of the mislabelling of meat, the EU Standing Committee on Food and Animal Health (SCOFAH) met on 15th February to agree the detail of a pan European testing programme. At the SCOFCAH meeting, experts from all Member States discussed the Commission’s proposals to test meat and meat products for the presence of horse DNA and to test for the presence of phenylbutazone (or bute). The Commission’s proposals received the support of the majority of Member States and were agreed by consensus. Ireland strongly supported the Commission’s proposals which represent another important step in restoring consumer confidence in this area.
It has been agreed that the testing of meat and meat products may commence immediately and will be co-funded by the Commission at a rate of 75 per cent for the first month. Results from the first round of tests, to be carried out by the end of March, will have to be reported to the Commission by 15th April. The number of DNA tests, which will be carried out on the basis of representative sampling, is expected to exceed 2,250 across the EU, and this will be supplemented by bute testing on the basis of one sample per 50 tonnes of horsemeat.
This testing will contribute to a clearer understanding of the situation across Europe and may be extended for a further two months. The issue will be discussed again at the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 25th February.
DNA testing has been deployed in recent times as part of the FSAI’s proactive approach to food authenticity and food fraud control programmes in this country. It was this testing which first uncovered the issue relating to mislabelling of meat that has since become a matter of concern across Europe. In the light of recent developments I had separately requested Irish manufacturers of processed meat products to carry out DNA testing and to work with the FSAI in developing testing protocols, to provide further reassurance to Irish consumers and consumers of Irish food abroad about the authenticity of ingredients in our meat based products. The FSAI and my Department met with the meat processing sector on 14th February to agree a national protocol for DNA testing of meat to be applied at retail, catering and processing level in Ireland. DNA testing will apply from now on as part of routine food testing across the country. The industry has already been engaged in product testing of over 200 samples and results received by the FSAI to date have all been negative for equine DNA (except for a further 5 that tested positive, which related to products previously identified as a problem and which had already been removed from the market).
In addition to the testing for bute agreed to at EU level, my Department and the FSAI are formulating a more comprehensive testing regime for horsemeat to provide full reassurance that no illegal slaughtering of horsemeat is taking place.
I believe good progress has been made in securing a significant response at European level to this ongoing controversy. We now have a co-ordinated EU testing plan in place introduced by the Commission at the behest of the Irish Presidency. Our investigation continues and information is being shared with other competent authorities and with Europol. The industry, which has primary responsibility for food placed on the market, has agreed to introduce additional DNA testing in order to provide reassurance to consumers. Ireland continues to be to the forefront in addressing this issue and we will continue to take whatever actions become necessary in this regard.
