Departmental Meetings

Tuesday, 28 November 2023

Ceisteanna (586)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

586. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the meetings held by his officials from assistant principal level upwards with representatives of the food industry in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the dates, attendees and matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52026/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Since 1st January 2020 to the present date, five meetings, which included officials at AP Grade or higher, have taken place with representatives of the food industry (see attached table for details).

The Department is coordinating the development of an Irish position on the EU’s proposed changes to the Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Regulation, which is aimed at better informing consumers so they can make informed decisions in support of a healthy and sustainable diet and the reduction of food waste. Three meetings were held on 16th February 2022, 20th June 2022 and 1st June 2023 with Food Drink Ireland (FDI) relating to the proposed changes.

In addition to these meetings, on 12th May 2022, the Department of Health, assisted by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland held an event to gather stakeholders’ views on the EU Commission’s proposed revision of the Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Regulation. In accordance with GDPR guidelines, personal details of individual attendees at this event have not been retained on file.

Engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives of the food industry, is an important element of informing and implementing policy around child and adult obesity as outlined in the Obesity Policy and Action Plan. Two meetings with Food Drink Ireland have taken place since mid-2020, one with then Minister of State Feighan and Department of Health officials on 12 November 2020 and one with Department of Health officials on 12 October 2021.

The relevant details- dates, attendees and matters discussed- as requested by the Deputy are set out in the attached document.

Department of Health Food Unit meetings with Food Industry 2020-2023
Date	Topics for discussion	Attendees	Meeting
12-11-2020	Matters discussed relating to child and adult obesity: Update on progress under Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP) Food Labelling Wellbeing Healthy Eating Guidelines for 1-5 Year Olds	Department of Health Frank Feighan, T.D. Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing & the National Drugs Strategy Blaine Gaffney, Minister Feighan’s Office Audrey Hagerty, (Principal Officer) Ciara Mellett, (Head of Healthy Ireland Programme) Ursula O’Dwyer, (Health Promotion Policy Advisor) Seamus O’Reilly, (AP) Food Drink Ireland Director, Food Drink Ireland Director of Prepared Consumer Foods, Food Drink Ireland Director of Corporate Affairs, Danone Ireland, and Chair of the Food Drink Ireland Public Affairs Group Executive, Food Drink Ireland	Virtual
12-10-2021	Matters discussed relating to child and adult obesity: Update on the consultation issued by the FSAI in February 2021: ‘Food Information to Consumers - Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling, Nutrient Profiles, Origin Labelling and Date Marking’; Progress on the Voluntary Codes of Practice for food marketing; Update of progress under the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP).	Department of Health Tom James, Head of Health and Wellbeing Ursula O’Dwyer (Health Promotion Policy Advisor) Seamus O’Reilly,(AP) Food Drink Ireland Director of Prepared Consumer Foods, Food Drink Ireland Director of Corporate Affairs, Danone Ireland, and Chair of the Food Drink Ireland Public Affairs Group Executive, Food Drink Ireland	Virtual
16-02-2022	Food Drinks Ireland (FDI) views about the EU Commission’s proposed Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Revision Package.	Department of Health Food Unit: Louise Kissane (Principal Officer); Anne Barry Reidy (Administrative Officer);Caroline Gibbons (Executive Officer); Ursula O'Dwyer (National Health Promotion Policy Advisor, Healthy Ireland). Food Safety Authority of Ireland: Senior Technical Executive, Regulatory Affairs & Compliance Building). Food Drink Ireland (FDI) Prepared Consumer Foods (PCF) Director; PCF, Executive; Irish Beverage Council, Director; Dairy Industry Official.	Virtual
20-06-2022	FDI views about the FIC Revision Package.	Department of Health Louise Kissane (Principal Officer); Tommy Wilson (AP); Carolyn Phillis (AP); Caroline Gibbons (EO); Ursula O’Dwyer (National Health Promotion Policy Advisor, Healthy Ireland); FDI PCF Director; Regulatory Executive;	In-person
01-06-2023	1. Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) 2. Reformulation 3. Responsible Marketing and Advertising	Department of Health Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton; Paul Melia, Advisor; Louise Kissane, PO (Food Unit); Catherine Curran, AP (Health & Wellbeing Unit); FDI Director; Deputy Director; and Chairperson.	In-person

Department of Health Food Unit Stakeholder Event with Industry 2022-2023

Date

Topics for discussion

Attendees

Event

12-05-2022

Stakeholder event where representatives from health interest groups, industry and environmental groups discussed the FIC Revision Package.

Industry Groups Represented

· Food Drink Ireland;

· Irish Cooperative Organisation Society;

· Lidl;

· Meat Industry Ireland;

· Drinks Ireland;

· Dunnes Stores;

· Irish Distillers Association;

· Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association;

· Dairy Industry Ireland;

· CAIS - Association of Irish Farmhouse Cheesemakers;

· Musgraves;

· Ornua;

· Irish Farmers Association;

Hybrid