Vol. 501 No. 1
72 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action, if any, taken in regard to a report of an EC inspection mission in March 1998 which found serious deficiencies at AIBP in Nenagh which allowed for the possibility of fraudulent actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5260/99]
As I indicated in a reply to Question No. 68 of 16 December 1998, an EU Commission inspection mission to Ireland in March 1998 found certain hygiene related deficiencies concerning the loading bay, handling of seized-detained carcases and the staining of specified risk material at the plant in question. In addition, deficiencies were found which, in the opinion of the EU inspectors, could allow for the possibility of fraud. However, it was made clear by the EU Commission, at a later meeting in Brussels, that the inspection mission had not found any evidence of actual or attempted fraud.
Arising out of the findings of the mission and its own ongoing review of in-plant veterinary procedures, my Department took a number of steps to further improve controls at all meat plants. These included revised arrangements in relation to marshalling halls and loading bays in all slaughter plants, including the plant to which the Deputy refers; revised procedures for the detention of carcases in all slaughter plants; tightened procedures for the identification, handling, segregation, staining and removal of specified risk material in all slaughter and cutting plants; and revision of the procedures at local plant level in respect of the evaluation of cattle age for the purpose of facilitating commercial trade.
The EU Commission has been fully apprised of the actions taken by my Department following the inspection.
