Vol. 564 No. 3
24 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans he has to resolve the difference between consumer groups and trade organisations regarding the definition of origin of meat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8854/03]
This issue arose in the context of the discussions on the report of the food labelling group. With the exception of a number of primary foodstuffs including beef and poultry meat there is no compulsory requirement, under EU law, to declare origin of food sold in retail outlets and there is no requirement for any information on origin to be given in relation to the food service sector. There was full agreement in the group that consumers had a right to information on the origin of the meat they cook in their homes or eat out. The differences within the group on the issue rested with how origin should be defined. The trade representatives, by and large wanted to define origin as EU-Non-EU while the consumer representatives and the main producer representative wanted it defined as country.
While the group could not agree on how origin should be defined, there was unanimous agreement that further research was necessary to establish consumers' wishes in this area. I have asked the consumer liaison panel to draw up a strategy for consumer research to establish the concerns of consumers in relation to food labelling generally. That strategy will include the issues of origin. When the panel report back to me, I will then arrange to have the research commissioned based on the strategy drawn up by them.
