Vol. 474 No. 4
54 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, he has for the introduction of a national beef assurance scheme designed to restore consumer confidence in beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3080/97]
In Partnership 2000 the Government is committed to developing, in consultation with the industry, a national beef assurance scheme. The scheme will be based on adherence by farmers, factories, compounders, marts — indeed all the links in the food chain — to strict standards which will be validated and monitored.
The scheme will be underpinned by a comprehensive computerised movement monitoring system currently being developed in my Department.
The goals and objectives of the scheme will be to: reinforce consumer confidence by providing more information and assurance; provide a fully comprehensive animal identification system; raise standards of production and processing; and enhance export performance. Substantial progress has been made in discussions with the industry towards developing a scheme which the Government is committed to having fully implemented by spring 1998.
