Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 June 2021
412. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to revise the legally defined tolerances currently used to verify the accuracy of the automated beef grading in meat plants; his views on whether the current 40% tolerance is acceptable when machines can be 95% accurate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32729/21]
View answerThere are currently 22 factories operating mechanical classification in Ireland representing approximately 90% of the national kill. Mechanical grading in beef factories is underpinned by two pieces of EU legislation which came into force in July 2018. Carcase classification is also governed by S.I. 249 of 2019.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1184 of 20 April 2017 sets out the legal tolerances for the authorisation of a mechanical classification system. The figure of 40% referred to by the Deputy relates to the authorisation procedure for a mechanical classification system and not the operation of machines. Using a system of points and limits defined in the EU legislation, a mechanical classification system must achieve an accuracy figure in excess of 60% for conformation and fat cover in order for it to be authorised for use in any EU state. Irish legislation is fully aligned with EU regulation in this regard.
Unannounced checks by classification officers verify the on-going accuracy of the automated beef grading methods using the same system of points and limits defined in the EU legislation. In 2020, during 314 checks, across the 22 mechanical grading factories, the average performance for conformation in 2020 was 93.3% and 95.6% for fat cover.
The role of the Department is clearly defined in the Irish legislation in terms of monitoring and supervision of classification. This legislation is constantly kept under review.
