Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
1373. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that the European Commissioner has lifted the ban on horses from outside the EU entering the human food chain, provided they have a six months' withdrawal period from medication prior to slaughter. [41483/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere has not been a general ban on horsemeat from outside the EU entering the human food chain in the EU, provided that EU regulatory requirements are met. Import of horsemeat is banned where Commission audits indicate that the regulatory requirements are not being met, but a number of non-EU countries have continued to export horsemeat to the EU over recent years on the basis that they meet the EU regulatory requirements.
In fact, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1832 of 17 October 2016, relating to changes in health certification requirements due to take effect from 31 March 2017, tightens up the conditions applying to such import. It imposes inter alia a minimum six-month residency requirement for the import into the EU of meat from horses from third countries. The non-EU country must also meet specified criteria with regard to the monitoring of administered substances and residues.
