Monitoring of Food Safety Standards

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 April 2018

Thursday, 19 April 2018

Ceisteanna (276)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

276. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department will assess the risks to the food chain, consumer health and the value and reputation of Irish agricultural exports in view of the fact that An Bord Pleanála has approved a company's (details supplied) application for an incinerator at a location; the way in which his Department and the Food Safety Authority will measure the effects on food safety caused by the incineration of toxic waste in the Golden Vale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17211/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Ensuring the highest standards of food safety, consumer protection, animal and plant health is a key function of my Department.  An integral element of this responsibility is the implementation of the national control plan whose primary objective is to ensure that feed and food is safe.  This multi-annual national control plan (MANCP), is produced in conjunction with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), and contains details of the control systems in place for food, feed, animal health, animal welfare and plant health.  While these control systems are implemented by a number of Departments and agencies, the FSAI - which comes under the remit of the Department of Health - is the competent authority with overall responsibility for the enforcement of food legislation.  This responsibility is managed through contractual arrangements with the relevant agencies, including my Department.