Written Answers - Semi-State Bodies.
Mary Upton
Ceist:
83
Dr. Upton
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the relationship between the Food Safety Authority and Safefood; if he has satisfied himself that there is no duplication of roles in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3864/03]
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI, was formally established as an independent statutory body under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998. The principal function of the authority is to ensure that food consumed, produced, distributed or marketed in the State meets the highest standards of food safety and hygiene available. The authority is responsible for the enforcement of all food safety legislation and carries out its enforcement functions through "service contracts" with over 48 official agencies who undertake inspections and other enforcement actions on its behalf.
In the context of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, an agency with responsibility for the promotion of food safety, the Food Safety Promotion Board, FSPB, also known as Safefood, was established as one of the six North-South Implementation Bodies. The functions of the FSPB, as provided for in the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999, are: the promotion of food safety; research into food safety; the communication of food alerts; the surveillance of food-borne diseases; the promotion of scientific co-operation and linkages between laboratories; and the development of cost-effective facilities for specialised laboratory testing.
The roles of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Food Safety Promotion Board are, I believe, complementary. As the single regulatory authority with responsibility for the enforcement of food safety legislation in the State, the primary focus of the FSAI is on enforcing legislation and imparting a greater understanding to all food businesses of their legal responsibility for producing safe food. On the other hand, the FSPB has a remit throughout the island of Ireland in relation to the promotion of food safety.
Given that both organisations are engaged in the area of food safety, there is, of course, a need to ensure that they co-operate and work closely together, and this is provided for in the relevant legislation. At operational level, the FSAI and the FSPB are in regular contact, keep each other informed of their activities and, indeed, are working jointly in a number of areas. The close ties between the two organisations are illustrated by some common membership on the respective boards of the bodies.
I am satisfied that there is no duplication of roles between the FSAI and the FSPB. On the contrary, the work of the two organisations complement one another and together they ensure that the Irish consumer is among the best protected in the world.
Question No. 84 answered with Question No. 65.
