Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 November 2017
178. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which beef or other meat imports from third countries have been evaluated with particular reference their impact on Irish and EU producers; if steps are being taken to safeguard Irish and EU agrifood producers in view of current or potential imports from third countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47280/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has a small open economy and relies to a significant extent on international trade for its economic well-being. This is particularly true in the agrifood sector, given its overwhelming dependence on export trade. Against this background, Ireland is broadly supportive of balanced trade liberalisation, provided our most vulnerable sectors, including beef, are protected.
Where agri food products are imported from third countries, such imports are governed by a comprehensive and robust legislative framework laid down at EU level, controlled by Member States in the first instance, and audited by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (formally the FVO), to ensure compliance with all of the relevant food safety standards. The legislation imposes health and supervisory requirements designed to ensure that imported products meet standards equivalent to those required for production and trade between Member States. Import control procedures on products of animal and fish origin are highly prescriptive and strictly audited by the Directorate to ensure compliance. Inspection finding reports are published on the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety’s website. Veterinary checks are carried out on consignments of foods imported from Third countries outside the EU. Consignments are subject to documentary, identity and physical checks, including sampling of products, carried out in accordance with European regulations at Border Inspection Posts.
Any evaluation of future trade deals should take account of the EU Commission’s assessment of the cumulative impact on the agri food sector, and of the potentially negative impact of Brexit on EU agriculture. In the context of discussions on a potential trade deal with Mercosur, I have worked with a number of other member states to mobilise opposition to the inclusion by the Commission of a beef tariff rate quota in its recent offer to Mercosur countries, and in this context will continue to ensure that the interests of Irish beef farmers are protected.
