Written Answers. - Food Quality Assurance.
Brian Cowen
Ceist:
250
Mr. Cowen
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry
in relation to the remit of his Department and the agencies under the aegis of his Department and in respect of his responsibilities for food quality assurance, if he will give details of the scope of the remit of his Department in so far as it is relevant for the agencies under the aegis of his Department; the number of staff devoted to any and all aspects of this work; the locations, numbers, duties and grades of all those so occupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19825/96]
The information in respect of my Department and the state agencies under its aegis is as follows:
Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
The following list sets out the food quality related legislation for which my Department has responsibility. The list distinguishes between legislation concerned with food safety and that dealing exclusively with other quality aspects. The details of the staff involved are: 479 professional (including the equivalent of 62 full-time temporary veterinary officers employed on a sessional basis) and 772 technical staff whose functions encompass meat inspection, veterinary medicines, zoonotic diseases, beef classification, pesticide control and the application of quality standards in the dairy produce, poultry and eggs, fruit and vegetables, and animal feed areas; 44 professional and 164 technical staff at the Department's six veterinary laboratories, three dairy laboratories, meat control laboratory, and pesticides control service laboratory; and some 500 administrative staff in various divisions on a full-time equivalent basis.
An Bord Bia
An Bord Bia operates a beef quality assurance scheme and a pigmeat quality assurance scheme. It is currently in discussion with the Department about the introduction of a comprehensive national quality assurance scheme, including full traceability of animals. The quality assurance functions are carried out by a manager, an inspector, and an executive assistant who are supplemented as necessary by other staff resources.
An Bord Glas
An Bord Glas has introduced hygiene and quality auditing and certification schemes in a number of sectors of the horticultural industry. A total of 11 staff are involved to varying degrees.
Teagasc
While not directly involved in the administration or implementation of quality related measures, Teagasc carries out research projects having as their theme food quality, including safety. The number of staff currently involved in such projects is 42.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FORESTRY
"QUALITY ASSURANCE LEGISLATION"
PART I — LEGISLATION WITH FOOD SAFETY ASPECTS
GENERAL
Diseases of Animals Act 1996 and various Orders made thereunder
MEAT AND MEAT HYGIENE
National Legislation
1. Abattoirs Act, 1988 and the regulations made thereunder:
I. Abattoirs Act, 1988 (Abattoirs) Regulations, 1989
II. Abattoirs Act, 1988 (Veterinary Examination) Regulations, 1992
III. Abattoirs (Health Mark) Regulations, 1992
2. Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) Act, 1931 (No. 45 of 1931)
3. Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) (Amendment) Act, 1935 (No. 36 of 1935)
4. Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) (Amendment) Act, 1938 (No. 1 of 1938)
5. Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) Act, 1930 (No. 10 of 1930)
6. Agricultural Produce (Meat) (Misc Provisions) Act, 1954 (No. 33 of 1954)
7. Agricultural Produce (Meat) (Misc Provisions) Act, 1978 (No. 13 of 1978)
8. European Communities (Fresh Meat) Regulations, 1987 and 1989 (S.I. No. 284 of 1987 and S.I. No. 66 of 1989)
9. Pigs and Bacon Act, 1935 (No. 24 of 1935)
10. Pigs and Bacon Act, 1937 (No. 23 of 1937)
11. Pigs and Bacon Act, 1938 (No. 35 of 1938)
12. Pigs and Bacon (Amendment) Act, 1939 (No. 35 of 1939)
13. Pigs and Bacon Act, 1940 (No. 24 of 1940)
14. Pigs and Bacon (Amendment) Act, 1956 (No. 37 of 1956)
15. Pigs and Bacon Act, 1961 (No. 14 of 1961)
EU Legislation
1. European Communities (Minced Meat) Regulations, 1994 (S.I. No. 215 of 1994).
2. European Communities (Meat Products and Other Products of Animal Origin) Regulations, 1995 (S.I. No. 126 of 1995).
3. European Communities (Minced Meat and Meat Preparations) Regulations 1996 (S.I. No. 243 of 1996).
4. Council Directive 88/657 of 14 December 1988 laying down the requirements for the production of, and trade in, minced meat, meat in pieces less than 100 grams and meat preparations, and amending Directives 64/433/EEC, 71/118/EEC and 72/462/EEC.
5. Council Directive 92/110/EEC of 14 December 1992 amending Directive 88/657/EEC.
6. Council Directive 91/497/EEC of 29 July 1991 amending and consolidating Directive 64/433/EEC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat to extend it to the production and marketing of fresh meat.
7. Council Directive 91/498/EEC of 29 July 1991 on the conditions for granting temporary and limited derogation from specific community health rules on the production and marketing of fresh meat.
8. Council Directive 92/5/EEC of 10 February 1992 amending and updating Directive 77/99/EEC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in meat products and amending Directive 64/433/EEC.
Poultry
1. European Communities (Fresh Poultrymeat) Regulations, 1996 (S.I. No. 3 of 1996).
2. European Communities (Zoonoses) Regulations, 1996 (S.I. No. 2 of 1996).
3. Council Regulation No. 1906/90/EEC on certain marketing standards for poultry.
4. Commission Regulation No. 1538/91/EEC introducing detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation 1906/90 on certain marketing standards for poultry.
Eggs
1. European Communities (Marketing Standards for Eggs) Regulations, 1992 (S.I. No. 254 of 1992) implementing Council Regulation No. 1907/90/EEC on certain marketing standards for eggs and Commission Regulation No. 1274/91/EEC introducing detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation 1907/90.
2. European Communities (Egg Products) Regulations, 1991 and 1992 (S.I. Nos. 293 of 1991 and 419 of 1992) implementing Council Directive No. 89/437/EEC on hygiene and health problems affecting the production and placing on the market of egg products.
Farmed Game Meat and Rabbitmeat
1. European Communities (Rabbitmeat and Farmed Game Meat) Regulations, 1995 (S.I. No. 278 of 1995) implementing Council Directive No. 91/495/EEC concerning public health and animal health problems affecting the production and placing on the market of farmed game meat and rabbitmeat.
Wild Game Meat
1. European Communities (Wild Game Meat) Regulations, 1995 (S.I. No. 298 of 1995) implementing Council Directive No. 92/45/EEC on public health and animal health problems relating to the killing of wild game and the placing on the market of wild game meat.
Quick Frozen Foodstuffs
1. European Communities (Quick-frozen foodstuffs) Regulations, 1992 (S.I. No. 290 of 1992) implementing Council Directive 89/108/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to quick-frozen foodstuffs for human consumption.
2. European Communities (Monitoring of temperature in the means of transport, warehousing and storage of quick-frozen foodstuffs and sampling procedure and methods of analysis for control of the temperatures of quick-frozen foods intended for human consumption) Regulations, 1995 (S.I. No. 370 of 1995) implementing Directive 92/1/EEC on the monitoring of temperature in the means of transport, warehousing and storage of quick-frozen foodstuffs intended for human consumption and Directive 92/2/EEC laying down the sampling procedure and methods of analysis for control of the temperatures of quick-frozen foods intended for human consumption.
Milk Sector
1. European Communities (Hygienic production and placing on the market of raw milk, heat-treated and milk-based products) Regulations, 1996 (S.I. No. 9 of 1996).
These Regulations apply in lieu of the provisions of the Dairy Products Acts, 1924 to 1984, the Creamery Acts, 1928 to 1934 and the Milk and Dairies Acts, 1935 to 1956 in relation to the hygienic production and placing on the market of raw milk, heat-treated milk and milk-based products.
Feed Legislation and Control Measures with Food Safety Implications
1. Council Directive (70/524/EEC) concerning additives in feedingstuffs as amended. European Communities (Additives in Feedingstuffs) Regulations, 1989 (S.I. No. 49 of 1989) as amended by S.I. No. 9 of 1995 and S.I. No. 44 of 1995.
2. Council Directive (74/63/EEC) on undesirable substances and products in animal nutrition, as amended. European Communities (Feedingstuffs) (Tolerances of Undesirable Substances and Products), Regulations, 1989 (S.I. No. 216 of 1989) as amended by S.I. No. 241 of 1991, S.I. No. 86 of 1993, S.I. No. 34 of 1994 and S.I. No. 73 of 1995.
3. Council Directive (82/471/EEC) concerning certain products used in animal nutrition, as amended. European Communities (Protein Feedingstuffs) Regulations, 1986 (S.I. No. 433 of 1986) as amended by S.I. No. 50 of 1994.
Legislation Governing Control of Residues of Animal Remedies in Food
1. Pigs and Bacon Act, 1935 (Part II) (Amendment) Regulations, 1985 (S.I. No. 259 of 1985).
2. Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) (Beef, Pork & Mutton) (Amendment) Regulations, 1985 (S.I. No. 260 of 1985).
3. European Communities (Control of Oestrogenic, Andrygenic & Thyrostatic Substances) Regulations, 1988 (S.I. No. 218 of 1988).
4. European Communities (Control of Veterinary Medicinal Products & their Residues) Regulations, 1990 (S.I. No. 171 of 1990).
5. Animal Remedies Act, 1993 (No. 23 of 1993).
6. European Communities (Animal Remedies & Medicated Feedingstuffs) Regulations, 1994 (S.I. No. 176 of 1994).
7. European Communities (Veterinary Medicinal Products) Regulations, 1986 (S.I. No. 22 of 1986).
8. Animal Remedies Regulations, 1996 (S.I. No. 179 of 1996).
Pesticide Residues and Poisons
1. Council Directive 76/895/EEC of 24 November 1976 on the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on fruit and vegetables.
— European Communities (Pesticide Residues) (Fruit and Vegetables) Regulations, 1989. (S.I. No. 105 of 1989).
— European Communities (Pesticide Residues) (Fruit and Vegetables) (Amendments) Regulations, 1994. (S.I. No. 189 of 1994).
2. Council Directive 86/363/EEC of 24 July 1986 on the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on foodstufs of animal origin.
— European Communities (Pesticide Residues) (Foodstuffs of Animal Origin) Regulations, 1988. (S.I. No. 217 of 1988).
— European Communities (Pesticide Residues) (Foodstuffs of Animal Origin) (Amendments) Regulations, 1993. (S.I. No. 317 of 1993).
— European Communities (Pesticide Residues) (Foodstuffs of Animal Origin) (Amendments) Regulations, 1995. (S.I. No. 165 of 1995).
3. Council Directive 90/642/EEC of 27 November 1990 on the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on certain products of plant origin, including fruit and vegetables.
— European Communities (Pesticide Residues) (Products of Plant Origin, including Fruit and Vegetables) Regulations, 1994. (S.I. No. 190 of 1994)
— European Communities (Pesticide Residues) (Products of Plant Origin, including Fruit and Vegetables) (Amendment) Regulations, 1995. (S.I. No. 166 of 1995)
— European Communities (Pesticide Residues) (Foodstuffs of Animal Origin) (Amendment) Regulations, 1996. (S.I. No. 35 of 1996).
4. Council Directive 91/132/EEC of 4 March 1991, amending Directive 74/63/EEC on undesirable substances and products in animal nutrition.
— European communities (Pesticide Residues) (Feedingstuffs) Regulations, 1992. (S.I. No. 40 of 1992)
5. Council Directive 86/362/EEC of 24 July on the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on cereals.
— European Communities (Pesticide Residues) (Cereals) Regulations, 1988. (S.I. No. 216 of 1988)
— European Communities (Pesticide Residues) (Cereals) (Amendment) Regulations, 1993. (S.I. No. 316 of 1993)
— European Communities (Pesticide Residues) (Cereals) (Amendment) Regulations, 1995. (S.I. No. 164 of 1995)
— European Communities (Pesticide Residues) (Cereals) (Amendment) Regulations, 1996. (S.I. No. 47 of 1996).
6. Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market. To ensure that plant protection products offered for sale do not,inter alia, result in unacceptable risks for consumers through dietary exposure to residual traces of residues contained in food.
— European Communities (Authorisation, Placing on the Market, Use and Control of Plant Protection Products) Regulations, 1994. (S.I. No. 139 of 1994)
— European Communities (Authorisation, Placing on the Market, Use and Control of Plant Protection Products) (Amendment) Regulations, 1995. (S.I. No. 200 of 1995).
7. Council Directive 79/117/EEC prohibiting the placing on the market and use of plant protection products containing certain active substances. To prevent use and therefore contamination of food,inter alia, with certain pesticides.
— European Communities (Prohibition of Certain Active Substances in Plant Protection Products) Regulations, 1981. (S.I. No. 320 of 1981)
— European Communities (Prohibition of Certain Active Substances in Plant Protection Products) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 1985. (S.I. No. 237 of 1985)
— European Communities (Prohibition of Certain Active Substances in Plant Protection Products) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 1987. (S.I. No. 342 of 1987)
— European Communities (Prohibition of Certain Active Substances in Plant Protection Products) (Amendment) Regulations, 1990. (S.I. No. 339 of 1990).
8. The Poisons (Prohibition of the Use of Certain Substances for Agricultural Purposes) Regulations, 1991, made under the Poisons Act, 1961, declare that certain substances are poisons and prohibit their use or storage with intent to use for agricultural purposes. (S.I. No. 361 of 1991).
PART II — LEGISLATION DEALING EXCLUSIVELY WITH OTHER QUALITY ASPECTS
1. European Communities (Fruit and Vegetables) Regulations, 1973 (S.I. No. 20 of 1973)
European Communities (Fruit and Vegetables) Regulations, 1973 (Amendment) Regulations, 1986. (S.I. No. 439 of 1986)
2. Food Standards (Honey) European Communities Regulations, 1976. (S.I. No. 155 of 1976)
3. The European Communities (Pig Carcase (Grading)) (Amendment) Regulations, 1994 (S.I. No. 216 of 1994)
4. Council Directive 73/241/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption — Food Standards (Cocoa and Chocolate Products) (European Communities) Regulations, 1975 (S.I. No. 180 of 1975)
5. Council Directive 75/726/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning fruit juices and certain similar products — Food Standards (Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars) European Communities) Regulations, 1978. (S.I. No. 173 of 1978)
6. Council Directive 77/436/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to coffee extracts and chicory extracts — European Communities (Coffee Extracts and Chicory Extracts) Regulations, 1982 (S.I. No. 295 of 1982)
7. Council Directive 79/693/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and chestnut puree — European Communities (Fruit Jams, Jellies and Marmalades and Chestnut Puree) Regulations, 1982. (S.I. No. 250 of 1982)
8. Council Directive 80/777/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters — European Communities (Natural Mineral Waters) Regulations, 1986. (S.I. No. 11 of 1986)
9. Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1576/89 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of Spirit Drinks — European Communities (Definition Description and Presentation of Spirit Drinks) Regulations, 1995. (S.I. No. 300 of 1995).
