Food safety body to get "unprecedented powers"

LEGISLATION which will grant the new Food Safety Authority of Ireland unprecedented powers in the interest of food safety is to go before the Dail "at the earliest opportunity", it was announced yesterday.

The new laws drawn up by the Department of Health will allow the authority to prosecute other State agencies for failing to implement food regulations adequately and to apply penalties.

It will operate independently of the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture and Food, which currently implement most food regulations.

It will also be empowered to the close food producing and food selling outlets, and to demand the withdrawal of food items - either home produced or imported from the market place if they fail to meet accepted standards or pose a health risk.

The FSA will have powers to enter premises, and of seizure of relevant documents. It will initially have a staff of 30 people and a budget of £1.5 million this year.

The FSA's chairman, Dr Daniel O'Hare, said it would act as the "regulator or regulators", and carry out detailed audits of food control systems to ensure official agencies implemented fully food safety and hygiene standards, and controls. Audit and inspection reports would be published.

The legislation, he said, would be "a crucial piece of law" because the authority wanted to be seen to have independence and objectivity in reassuring the public on food and ensuring adequate safeguards are in place and operating effectively.

"We have every indication that our independence will not be compromised in any way."

Speaking after announcing details of the FSA's structure, responsibilities and programme of work, Dr O'Hare said its mission would be "to provide reassurance on food safety to consumers of food in Ireland and to consumers of Irish food abroad, by ensuring that the best food safety and hygiene practices are observed in Ireland".

The quality of Irish food was of a very high standard but Irish consumers needed to be reassured and to see regulations being implemented adequately. The FSA would not be "interfering" in the work of farmers, he said.

The FSA's consultant administrator, Mr John Kerrigan, said a centre piece of the legislation would be "a compendium of criteria and standards for food safety and hygiene".

It will include details of all existing standards and a procedure for the formal recognition of standards incorporating the opinion of an expert scientific committee. The FSA will be able to change a standard or put a new one in place.

The FSA would commission research from other agencies and have a strong advisory role. The latter service would involve the provision of a walk in information centre, use of the Internet, and making available a free phone line on all aspects of foods safety.

It would also advise on food borne diseases and conditions transmitted from animals to humans.

The FSA's chief executive is to be announced shortly.

The FSA was criticised by Mr Joe Walsh, Fianna Fail spokesman on agriculture and food. Consumers would regard it as "powerless and ineffectual" as it had no chief executive and no structure. He accused to Government of remembering there might be votes in food safety in advance of an election.