My Department’s dairy inspectorate carries out frequent risk-based official controls at Infant Formula establishments involved in the manufacture and packing of Infant Formulae and Follow-on formulae which are intended for placing on the market in EU Member States or for export to non-EU countries. Controls are carried out to verify that infant formula composition and labelling is compliant with the requirements of EU and National legislation. In addition, comprehensive sampling programmes implemented by my Department’s officials at infant formula establishments ensure that these products meet the various microbiological and contaminant criteria outlined in legislation.
These control programmes are subject to external audit and are regularly scrutinised by other authorities, including the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, EU authorities and non-EU competent authorities. My Department’s official controls are carried out to ensure compliance by the industry with their regulatory requirements, and in particular labelling requirements which support breastfeeding. Further details of these mandatory requirements can be found on the FSAI website at www.fsai.ie/enforcement-and-legislation/legislation/food-legislation/foods-for-particular-nutritional-uses/infant-formulae-and-follow-on-formulae
In the context of official controls and regulatory requirements, officials at Assistant Principal level and upwards have meetings with food business operators under the regulatory control of my Department on an on-going basis.
