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Gnáthamharc

Lamb Imports.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 February 2008

Thursday, 21 February 2008

Ceisteanna (143)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

141 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the countries from which lamb has been imported into this country in the past five years; the extent to which this is increased or otherwise over this period on a yearly basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7336/08]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Central Statistics Office is responsible for the collection of statistics in relation to imports of meat and meat products. The table below is compiled from data supplied by that Office and the following should be noted. Information on imports for 2007 is available for the period up to September 2007. In certain cases the record of import may include the re-import of Irish products that were originally the subject of an export from this country. The information available for imports from EU Member States does not differentiate between products originating in the EU country and those originating in third countries that may already be in free circulation within the Community.

Imports of Lamb meat (tonnes) (% change from previous year)

2003

2004

2005

2006

20071

A

B

C

D

E

Belgium

33

Germany

125

1

France

3

UK

191

565

546

407

389

Northern Ireland

8

1

Ireland

30

Italy

12

Netherlands

17

1

94

227

Spain

11

New Zealand

6

2

2

1

1

Total Imports

322

617 (+92%)

560 (-9%)

543 (-3%)

631

1 to end September 2007.

Source CSO.

Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that Member States must apply to the production of and trade in products of animal origin as well as to imports of these products from third countries. It is a requirement that animal products imported from third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between, Member States. All imports must come from third countries or areas of third countries approved for export to the EU.

The EU's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) carries out assessment of third countries wishing to export animal products to EU and submits for Commission approval those where the responsible authorities can provide appropriate guarantees as regards compliance or equivalence with Community feed and food law and animal health rules. Third countries and their establishments that are approved to export are audited and inspected by the FVO with regard to these guarantees and reports of the findings of inspections are published on its website. If an outbreak of an animal diseases occurs in a third country or there are matters that indicate a risk to animal or human health, approval to export to the EU is suspended for the country or the effected region, as appropriate, until this risk has been eliminated. Where the FVO considers that public health requirements are not being met, an establishment may be removed from the EU approved list.

The level of imports has to be considered in the context of the national output of some 70,000 tonnes of sheep meat annually, of which 70% is exported. I am committed to supporting the sheep industry here in particular by following up on the recommendations of the Sheep Strategy Report, to provide assistance wherever I can. The Group's report set out a series of recommendations covering areas such as production, research, advice, processing and marketing. The objective is to facilitate the development of a more profitable sheep sector in Ireland covering production, processing and marketing.

My Department is providing assistance for breeding, processing facilities, mechanical grading and quality assurance. Other aspects of the Group's report are also being pursued especially in REPS where sheep farmers are major beneficiaries. They will also shortly benefit from a payment from the National Reserve of the Single Farm Payment scheme. My Department is assisting Bord Bia in providing valuable support on promotion and finding new outlets for sheep meat and Teagasc has augmented its sheep advisory services and has drawn up a specific programme to aid farmers in terms of management and welfare of sheep.

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