Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2015
99. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure country-of-origin labelling on poultry meat from April 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7388/15]
View answerIn 2011 the European Union passed the Food Information for the Consumers (FIC), Regulation 1169/2011, which has updated the requirements for consumer information and labelling in a number of areas, including origin labelling for meats other than beef.
Following on from the requirements of the FIC, Commission Regulation No. 1337/2013 introduces mandatory origin labelling for meat from pigs, poultry, sheep and goats from 1st April 2015. This provides for mandatory labelling of the Member State or third country of rearing and the Member State or third country of slaughter for these meats. The term 'Origin' can also be used where the country/member state of birth is the same as the country of rearing and slaughter. A Statutory Instrument is being prepared by my Department to ensure that the necessary provisions are in place to implement this mandatory labelling requirement from 1st April 2015.
