Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 September 2013
215. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is testing imported fish for artificial whitening additives; if so, if any of these samples have tested positive; if his Department is monitoring scallops for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40242/13]
View answerFish or fishery products coming from a non EU country, excluding Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, must go through an approved Border Inspection Post. Health checks at the posts are carried out by official veterinarians of my Department. The identity and documentation of all products are checked at the first point of entry into the EU and some products are checked physically. Commission Regulation No 136/2004 lays down procedures for veterinary checks at Community border inspection posts on products imported from third countries. Seafood imports from other EU countries do not need to undergo these checks.
In order to import fish or fishery products into Ireland from a non EU country the person who wishes to import fish/fishery products is required to register with the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). The SFPA and the Border Inspection Posts operate an agreed sampling plan, which is reviewed annually, to ensure that they meet the EU criteria with respect to potential contaminants, and for the presence of any medical residues or where there is concern that the product may not be fit for human consumption. In accordance with the Commission Regulation, the plan is based upon the nature of the products and the risk they represent, taking into account all relevant monitoring parameters such as frequency and number of incoming consignments and results of previous monitoring.
The SFPA was set up by the Oireachtas under the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 as the independent Authority for the implementation of sea-fisheries and seafood law from boat up to but excluding retail level (on fishing vessels, in shellfish production areas, in establishments handling preparing and processing seafood). The outcomes of the monitoring procedures are an operational matter for the SFPA in which I have no direct role. If the Deputy has concerns about specific substances or further information with regard to his concerns about scallops he should bring them to the attention of the SFPA.
