The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is to be asked to determine if it is satisfied with the quality of large volumes of imported chicken. The birds include non-EU produce, particularly from Thailand and China.
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Mr Ned O'Keeffe, gave the undertaking yesterday after concern was expressed that chicken was coming from countries which allegedly do not have the same food safety standards as the Republic - especially for controlling salmonella.
Mr O'Keeffe told the All-party Committee on Agriculture and Food he believed there were sufficient safeguards in place. Imported poultry has been cornering much of the Irish market, particularly within the catering sector.
Veterinary certification and World Health Organisation standards helped ensure the safety of such produce, he said. With EU produce specifically, there were rigorous checks. When a problem arose in a member-state, as with the Belgian dioxin contamination recently, monitoring increased.
The Irish poultry industry, which could show high standards of production, felt that much of the imported produce was inferior, said Mr Michael Finucane TD (FG). "My understanding is that the FSAI would share that concern. My worry is that consumers are not aware they are eating this kind of produce."
Mr O'Keeffe said in light of the committee's views he would consult the FSAI to ensure it was satisfied with import arrangements.
He also outlined how he intends to implement the report of the Food Industry Development Group, which envisages spending £450 million up to 2006 to foster significant expansion of most food sectors. It was possible that the £450 million target funding might not be achieved, he accepted. It is planned to spend £180 million on capital investment; £135 million on research, technology and innovation; £100 million on marketing and promotion and £35 million on human resources.
Committee chairman, Mr John Ellis TD (FF), said there was a risk that insufficient funds would go into marketing.
