The Food Safety Authority (FSA) should be given sole responsibility for monitoring the entry of meat into the human food chain, says the Labour Party.
Speaking at the launch of a ten-point plan to tackle BSE, Labour Party spokeswoman for Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Ms Mary Upton said as long as the Department of Agriculture, which supports the farming industry, controls the food chain, consumer confidence in Irish beef will not be restored.
She also called for extra resources for the FSA to carry random inspections on farms to ensure that the feeding practices of animals are compliant with legislation, to be administered by an appointee who would manage the BSE crisis.
"The main brief of the appointee would be to protect public health and rebuild the damaged beef industry," said Ms Upton.
"They would have overall responsibility for the day-to-day decisions in relation to controls and measures to reduce the risks associated with BSE."
"Until there is a separation of food safety from the [Department of Agriculture], the consumer will lack confidence in the inspection process."
The ten-point programme includes:
- the complete separation of food safety from the Department of Agriculture
- the appointment of a BSE overseer
- the complete removal of specified risk material
- an indefinite ban on meat and bone meal
- the labelling and country of origin on all meat products