Jackie Cahill
Question:541. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the labelling regulations on imported animals slaughtered here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14426/16]
View answerWednesday, 8 June 2016
Questions (541)
Written answers
Rules on country of origin labelling are determined at EU level. Regulation 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and Council and Regulation 1825/2000 of the Commission made provision for the compulsory labelling of beef marketed in the Community, including animals imported into Ireland for slaughter.
Under these rules, food business operators are required to label fresh, frozen or minced beef with details of the slaughterhouse and de-boning hall in which the animal was processed as well as the country in which it was born, reared and slaughtered.
Last year my predecessor signed into law a Statutory Instrument No. 113 of 2015, to give effect to new European Regulations extending mandatory country of origin labelling to meat from sheep, pigs, poultry and goats. This requires labelling with the Member State or third country of rearing and the Member State or third country of slaughter for these meats. The term ‘Origin’ can only be used where the country/member state of birth is the same as the country of rearing and slaughter.
My Department is liaising with the Department of Health with a view to extending the legislation to include “loose meats” e.g. meat cuts that are sold through butcher counters.