Beef Imports.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2004

Tuesday, 6 July 2004

Ceisteanna (102, 103, 104, 105)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

132 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the restrictions that are in place to prevent the risk of foot and mouth disease here from imported meat produced in Brazil. [20074/04]

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

163 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the precautions his Department is making in view of the confirmed outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Brazil. [20266/04]

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

164 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention was drawn to the foot and mouth outbreak in Brazil and to the fact that the British Army in the Six Counties continues to use beef sourced from that country. [20267/04]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

203 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if beef is imported here or via third countries in a way that might cause the spread of foot and mouth disease. [20535/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 132, 163, 164 and 203 together.

I am aware of the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Brazil. The outbreak referred to was reported on 17 June 2004 in the Monte Alegre district in the state of Para. This state is already precluded from exporting beef to the EU because it has not been approved by the European Commission for that purpose. I understand that in this particular instance, the outbreak is in an isolated area more than 700 km from the borders of the zone recognised by the World Animal Health Organisation and by the European Commission as FMD free with vaccination.

On a more general note, there are mechanisms established at EU level for monitoring and controlling the risks associated with disease outbreaks in Brazil and other third countries. Commission "safeguard" decisions banning imports from particular countries or regions are considered by member states and the European Commission at the standing committee for the food chain and animal health at which officials from my Department attend. Additionally, third countries or regions wishing to export products of animal origin to the EU must be approved for that purpose by the European Commission.

In relation to the current case, no additional measures have been proposed by the European Commission. However, the situation is being kept under review by the Commission services.

Apart from this, detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that member states must apply to the imports of products of animal origin from third countries. This harmonised legislation applies to all imports into the EU, including Northern Ireland, and imposes a series of health and supervisory requirements designed to ensure that imported products meetstandards at least equivalent tothose required for production in, and trade between, member states and imports from third countries. Harmonised controls are applied at the point of import to the EU ensure compliance with these rules.