Following the coming in to force, on 21 April, of the EU Commission Decision 2005/317/EC on emergency measures regarding the non-authorised genetically modified organism Bt10 in maize products, my Department has introduced a requirement that all imports of maize gluten feed and distillers dried grains originating from the USA be accompanied by an original analytical certificate to demonstrate that Bt10 maize is not present.
My Department also proposes to introduce random checks on such products once an event specific test for Bt10 is validated by the EU joint research centre and put into operation by the State Laboratory. It is anticipated that this test will be available within the next couple of weeks. I remind the Deputy that the European Food Safety Authority has concluded that this incident does not constitute an immediate public health risk, a position fully endorsed by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI.