Vol. 518 No. 1
110 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the veterinary inspections carried out by European Union veterinary officials on poultry meat which is imported from Third World countries; and his views on whether the level of inspection is satisfactory and is comparable with the level and intensity of inspection carried out on poultry meat produced at plants here. [10994/00]
111 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if European veterinary officials oversee the preparation and processing of poultry meat in Third World countries which is exported to the European Union; and the level of intensity of such inspections. [10995/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together.
I have previously detailed the harmonised EU rules on veterinary checks which apply to imports of poultry products. Third countries wishing to gain approval to export to the EU must satisfy the European Commission that their legislation and controls offer equivalent consumer protection to that applying in the EU. Such equivalance agreements also permit EU inspection visits by the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission to be carried out in the third countries to verify that the common controls and monitoring requirements as required under EU legislation are being implemented.
