DAFM plans to 'enhance understanding of global supply chains for Irish food'
Rules and plans on food labelling and countries of origin were recently clarified by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon.
The minister made the comments in reply to a parliamentary question from Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice, who asked if processors will be required to publish the proportions of Irish and non-Irish products of animal origin processed in their plants, and that are contained in their final products.
In his reply, Minister Heydon said that the main framework for food information to consumers is “Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers (FIC)”.
He added: “Under this EU Regulation, the general rule is that the indication of the country of origin or place of provenance is mandatory where failure to indicate this might mislead the consumer as to the true country of origin or place of provenance of the food."
Minister Heydon went on to discuss another rule concerning the country of origin differing from the primary ingredient.
He said: “Article 26(3) of the EU FIC Regulation, which provides that where the country of origin or the place of provenance of a food is given and where it is not the same as that of its primary ingredient, the country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient in question shall also be given.
"This Article aims at preventing misleading food information which implies a certain origin of a food, when in fact its true origin is different.
“The rules for indicating the country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient of a food are set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/775.”
‘Product of Ireland’
On labelling produce as Irish, Heydon said: “Where 'Product of Ireland' is displayed on the food and is different from the country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient, it must be accompanied by country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient.”
The minister defined a primary ingredient as “an ingredient or ingredients of a food that represent more than 50% of that food or which are usually associated with the name of the food by the consumer and for which in most cases a quantitative indication is required”.
Minister Heydon added that he convened a meeting of key stakeholders on February 13.
He said: “As a result of these discussions, my department has committed to undertake an initiative to enhance understanding of global supply chains for Irish food and drink and an understanding of labelling and food information for the consumer requirements.”
FSAI
Separately, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) recently outlined the "substantial body of legislation" in place as it responded to concerns around food labelling compliance.
Earlier this month, CEO of the FSAI, Greg Dempsey was at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food to discuss food labelling.
He said: “EU beef labelling rules, in place since 2000, impose certain requirements, including a declaration to consumers of the origin of beef.
"This legislation requires food businesses to label beef with specific information, at all stages of the process, from slaughterhouse to the point of sale to the consumer.
"This information must be declared on the label of pre-packed cuts of beef, but where the beef is not sold prepacked, (for example, in a butcher shop), the mandatory information is required to be provided in a written and visible form to the consumer at the point of sale," the FSAI CEO said.
