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Beef Imports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2018

Tuesday, 30 January 2018

Ceisteanna (495)

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

495. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount in tonnage of non-national beef which was processed and labelled as Irish here in 2016 and 2017 by county, in tabular form; the origin of this non-national beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4215/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In 2016 Ireland imported just over 29,000 tonnes of beef worth €110m. The overwhelming bulk of these imports came from the UK.

The latest CSO figures for 2017 available show that between January and October of last year, Ireland imported almost 24,000 tonnes of beef worth just under €89m.

This Department does not maintain records of the amount of beef which was used for further processing within Ireland before being sold or re-exported.

The FSAI is the body responsible for enforcement of regulations governing traceability, labelling and provision of food information to customers.

Additionally my Department has a permanent veterinary presence at all its approved slaughter plants. Controls at plants only engaged in secondary processing are carried out at a frequency based on an annual risk assessment. An annual audit of imported products is carried out in each Department-approved plant, including checks on physical identity, labelling and documentary checks for product originating in EU Member States and third countries. Labelling and documentary checks are routinely conducted by the Department in accordance with the relevant EU regulations.

My Department has found no cases or instances where non national beef was processed and labelled as Irish in 2016 and 2017.

The HSE has reported to FSAI that in 2016 Environmental Health Officers of the HSE carried out 2,782 assessments for compliance with the beef labelling legislation, S.I. 435 of 2000 as amended. These assessments were carried out as part of programmed inspections in meat retailers including butcher shops. The assessments covered labelling of carcase beef, packaged beef and non-packaged beef. The specific assessments carried out varied depending on the type of activities in the establishment inspected. FSAI has not yet received full figures for checks carried out in 2017.

In June 2016 FSAI took a successful prosecution against one wholesaler in relation to a number of offences related to breaches of food legislation. These included falsely declaring Irish origin for beef imported from other EU member states. The defendant was found guilty of all charges, fined a total of €16,000, with €10,000 as an agreed contribution to costs.

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