Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
449. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which traceability, husbandry, management and hygiene tests continue to be strictly applied throughout the food sector, indigenous and imports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56226/23]
View answerAny food business involved in the production, processing and distribution of food in Ireland must be approved or registered by the responsible government agency to carry out these activities and are subject to official controls.
Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002 as amended sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law and stipulates that food business operators must, at all stages of production, processing and distribution within their business, ensure food law requirements are satisfied. To ensure traceability across the food chain, these regulations require that food business operators have what is referred to as the, "one step forward, one step backward", traceability system.
Food business operators must ensure that they comply with the relevant hygiene requirements applicable to their operations as laid down in the Hygiene Package.
Under the EU Hygiene package, the primary responsibility for food safety, hygiene and traceability of food placed on the market lies with food business operators.
Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 lays down specific rules on the hygiene of food of animal origin for food business operators. These rules supplement those laid down by Regulation (EC) No 852/2004.
The role of National Competent Authorities is to verify compliance with these requirements. This is done by inspecting establishments and auditing the food safety management systems which food business operators have in place. Verification activities also include the taking of official controls samples for verification of food business operators compliance with food law.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has overall responsibility for the enforcement of food Safety legislation in Ireland and delegates this work to the official agencies through service contracts. These contracts specify the food sectors to be supervised, the types of controls to be provided including inspections and laboratory analysis. The main official agencies under contract to the FSAI are the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Health Service Executive, the Local Authorities and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. The contracts are published on the Authority’s website and their performance is subject to regular checks and audits.
The collective work of the FSAI and the official agencies is reported annually in the Multi Annual National Control Plan for Ireland. This is submitted to the European Commission and the FSAI and its official agencies are subject to audit by the Commission based on the data provided.
The organisation of official controls in Ireland covers all foods produced or marketed in the State, including imports.
My Department has a permanent presence in all approved slaughter plants. Controls at plants only engaged in secondary processing are carried out at a frequency based on an annual risk assessment. Official controls are carried out on imported products, including checks on physical identity, labelling and documentary checks for product originating in EU Member States and third countries in accordance with the relevant EU regulations.
The standards for animal husbandry are laid out in the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 as amended and are strictly enforced by the Veterinary and Agricultural inspectorates.
The import of products of animal origin from third countries is also governed by EU legislation and these products must enter the EU through designated Border Control Posts. The legislation demands that imported products meet standards equivalent to those required for production and trade within the EU. Border Control Posts are operated by my Department. Import control procedures on foods of animal origin are highly prescriptive and strictly applied.
The FSAI reviews audit and inspection control programmes and receives information on the outcome of official controls foods. Where foods may pose a danger to public health are identified, withhold, withdraw and recall notices are issued to Food Businesses and this information is relayed to the European Commission through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed. The relevant EU and National legislation sets out the actions required and penalties that can be applied to food businesses including closure or suspension of business activities.
