Tony Killeen
Ceist:40 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the growing number of food quality schemes being established; and the plans, if any, he has for their national co-ordination. [5208/99]
Other Questions. - Food Quality.
My Department and State agencies under my control operate a large number of measures dealing with food quality in a logical and structured manner. The measures in place span the range of agricultural commodities.
I am aware that a multiplicity of retail customer focused schemes have developed in recent times which indicates the competitive environment of today's retail sector and the demand from consumers for a particular quality focus.
I commend the trend towards consumer awareness of quality in food and I am examining ways to ensure the consumer is best served in the context of food quality schemes.
Will the Minister of State agree that while there is a multiplicity of schemes in existence, there appears to be a great deal of non-compliance? Perhaps there is no requirement for compliance in relation to the schemes the Minister of State mentioned, but has he any plans for the setting up of a national quality control council to set and monitor standards and ensure they are adhered to? If the Minister of State has such plans, is legislation required in this regard?
The Deputy's question is important because we live in an age of quality. The programme for Government refers to safety and quality and while we have addressed the issue of safety, we have not yet addressed the quality area. I am examining the issue of quality and we are considering a national quality council. I do not know whether legislation will be necessary or if this council can be set up by way of an order under existing legislation. We have commenced work in this regard and we hope some progress will be made in the next six to eight weeks. This is an important area. The Deputy referred to non-compliance. I am not aware if that has been the case, although with the number of schemes in existence it is likely that difficulties have arisen. We want to underpin all the existing schemes with legislation and people will have to adhere to our standards.
Will the Minister of State agree that in other European countries all compliance criteria are co-ordinated through the operation of a quality control council set up either on a statutory or establishment basis? In relation to non-compliance, has the Minister of State had any complaints in this regard? Will he agree that while he has had negotiations on the safety aspect of food, there is a long way to go in terms of the quality aspect?
I agree in principle with the Deputy's comments about that whole area. There may be rumours about non-compliance but nobody has been identified. The problem exists and we are conscious of that, having regard to the numbers in place. They are inclined to mushroom and for that reason we will have to examine the matter in terms of legislation.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.