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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 1990

Vol. 394 No. 8

Written Answers. - Food Safety Regulations.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

95 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health if he has developed a strategy for food safety regulations in view of consumer concern for the safety of many different foods particularly relating to salmonella in eggs, listeria in pte and botulism in yoghurt; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Strategy in relation to food safety is based primarily on the effective and successful enforcement of the Food Hygiene Regulations, 1950-1989, coupled with a health promotional programme which includes advising the public of dangers arising from the mishandling of food, ineffective storage facilities and inadequate cooking arrangements. Features of the promotional aspects of my Department's strategy on food safety are the ongoing CLEANWATCH programme and an information leaflet on Hygiene in the Home which was circulated widely recently to the public through primary schools and to relevant organisations. In addition, the health boards in their enforcement of the regulations carry our regular monitoring and sampling programmes in conjunction with the regional analytical laboratories. They also coordinate their reactions to reports of any outbreaks of illnesses in which food is incriminated.

The Food Safety Advisory Committee which I established in July 1989 in association with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, represents a broad range of medical and scientific expertise and fulfils a very important role in the whole area of food policy. Recently they presented three important reports on listeria, food irradiation and bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Reports on salmonella and campylobacter are currently being prepared.
While existing strategy in relation to the protection of the public is well geared to meet any challenges which may confront us in the future, we nevertheless all need to increase our vigilance and watchfulness. Both the public and the food industry have also an important role to play in this regard.
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