Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:160 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the situation with respect to mechanical beef grading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25460/03]
Written Answers. - Beef Grading.
Within the framework of EU Regulation 1215/2003 allowing for the introduction of mechanical classification, my Department has arranged for the trial testing this month of mechanical grading machines from Australia, Germany and Denmark. An international panel of EU approved experts will conduct the trials, and once deemed successful, some or all of the machines will be approved for use in Ireland. It will then be a matter for the industry to make the necessary arrangements for the acquisition of the machines. The Department is putting arrangements in place to allow for the withdrawal of its classification officers from 1 January 2004 after which its role will be confined in this area to supervision of the grading process. This is in line with the systems operated in 13 other EU member states.
Question No. 161 answered with Question No. 148.