Vol. 400 No. 3
1 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he accepts that certain dairy spreads on the Irish market do not contain any butter fat despite the fact that the advertising of such spreads clearly implies that the ingredients contained in them are from the dairy herds of Ireland; if he further accepts that such misleading advertising is harmful to the Irish dairy industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am aware that a number of dairy manufacturers are now marketing low fat spreads which do not have any butterfat content. However, Council Regulation 1898-87 on the protection of designations used in the marketing of milk and milk products prohibits the use of dairy terms or imagery in the advertising of products which are not made exclusively from milk and action has already been taken by my Department in a number of cases to enforce the requirements of the Regulation. However, if the Deputy has evidence of the use of such terms or imagery in the advertising of these low fat spreads, I would be pleased to receive it so that appropriate action can be taken.
The Minister in his reply stated that he is aware of a number of creameries who are marketing low fat spreads. The creameries I am concerned about are those who market spreads which do not have any fat content. Is the Minister aware that there are two well known Irish creameries who manufacture spreads which does not contain any Irish butter fat? We could argue about the use of imagery but I take it that, if housewives note that a spread is manufactured by a certain creamery they assume it must have something to do with the creamery industry. Would the Minister not agree that this is not in the best interests of the creamery industry and can he say if there is anything that either he or the Commission can do about it?
As I indicated to the Deputy, I am aware that low fat products are being marketed which have no butter fat content. I also indicated to the Deputy that I have taken action to correct the position. I am aware of three such cases. However there is no restriction under European law, which is what we are concerned with here, on enterprises mainly engaged in the manufacture of dairy products manufacturing other types of product provided that they do not give the impression it is a butter product.
Would the Minister accept that many of the dairy spreads being marketed are identical to margarines?Should such products be marketed as dairy spreads?
I think the Deputy would find that dairy spreads are different to margarine. I can assure him that I will be as stringent in the future as I have been in the past and take whatever action may be necessary. I have done so, as I said, on three occasions. I can let the Deputy have the details in private but, as he will appreciate, neither he nor I would like to refer to these matters in public.
Let us have a reply to Question No. 2, please, in the name of the same Deputy.
May I ask one final supplementary?
It has to be very brief, otherwise the Deputy's question at the latter end may have to be sacrificed.
Would the Minister not agree, given the great depression in the dairy industry, that it is very important that what we produce is sold under the proper flag?
I did ask for brevity.
Margarines are masquerading as dairy spreads.
It has to be said the days of depression in the dairy industry were confined to the period when a previous Government were in office. There has been no depression since I became Minister for Agriculture and Food in the dairy industry.
