Beef Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2019

Tuesday, 16 April 2019

Questions (439)

Denis Naughten

Question:

439. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to his correspondence of 9 April 2019 regarding the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 952 of 26 March 2019, the number of beef grading machines that would fail on inspection if the accuracy standard was set at the average accuracy of machines, which is over 90%, rather than the minimum set out in legislation, at 60% accuracy; if he will reduce the tolerance currently allowed on beef grading machines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17553/19]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1184 of 20 April 2017 governs the monitoring of carcase classification, carcase presentation and weighing. The legal tolerances for authorisation of a mechanical classification system are set in that legislation.

The figure quoted of 60% is the minimum accuracy figure for conformation and fat cover that must be achieved for a mechanical classification system to be authorised for use in any EU state. The average performance for conformation in Ireland in 2018 was 91.8% for conformation and 94.8% for fat cover.   

In 2018, 23 machines were inspected during 412 inspections. During these inspections, on 112 occasions the accuracy was between 80% and 90% for both conformation and fat.  In all other instances, the machines were above 90% accuracy.  The Deputy should be aware that these accuracy figures include over-scores as well as under-scores when compared to manual grading.