I propose to take Questions Nos. 1118 to 1121, inclusive, together.
The sub-groups of the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG) have agreed to meet and agree their draft Terms of Reference, which in the interim remain under active consideration in the Department. The work of the Reformulation sub-group - including work that feeds into a methodology for measuring the efficacy of the Sugar Sweetened Drinks (SSD) Tax - is therefore at an early stage. The roadmap for its reformulation work is likely to involve a framework for monitoring and evaluating reformulation targets and engagement with the food industry in this regard. I expect that the elaboration of methodologies will evolve over the course of this work while keeping in mind the proposed date for the introduction of the SSD Tax. The OPIOG also agreed to establish a sub-group for Healthy Eating. Its work is at an early stage and it is expected to meet shortly and agree its draft Terms of Reference.
My Department liaises with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) on a regular basis. The FSAI has been validating food industry salt reduction work for many years. It has carried out this work by sampling foods from the market and having them analysed in the HSE Public Analysts Laboratory in Galway. This data is published annually and is available on the FSAI website. The FSAI is exploring the validation of FDI sugar and fat reduction work. In the first instance, it has been developing baseline data on specific foods based on food labelled data and a report on this work is expected in the coming weeks.
The Deputy may wish to note that the FSAI has also advised my Department that this year, it is funding the analysis of breakfast cereal and yoghurts for sugar, fat and salt by an external laboratory as part of its reformulation validation work.
Finally, the draft minutes of the first OPIOG meeting held at the end of October last will be submitted for approval at the next meeting of the OPIOG after which they will be available. Its next meeting is expected to take place in February.