Stringent rules in national plan for safer beef

The Cabinet has approved the terms of a National Beef Assurance Scheme, which will guarantee full traceability of all Irish beef and be underpinned by stringent rules and penalties.

The initiative is further indication of Ireland's intent to adopt the highest international food safety standards, according to the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh.

The scheme, which has taken more than two years to complete, will have far-reaching consequences for farmers and food processors, as it requires mandatory registration, inspection and approval.

It covers cattle dealers, live exporters, livestock marts, abattoirs, meat plants, animal feed manufacturers and the meat trading sector, and will rely heavily on the use of advanced information technology.

Mr Walsh told the Seanad yesterday the proposed legislation, which is due to be enacted by the end of the year, was "a key response to past food scares in the cattle, beef and animal-feed sectors, particularly the BSE crisis". It would serve to protect both consumers and producers by providing assurances that Irish beef was safe, and by underpinning confidence in the industry at home and abroad.

The Bill would draw together the range of legislation already in place for the cattle, beef and animal-feed sectors, and develop common high standards of production and processing and trade.

The Bill will also feature environmental standards, including pollution and waste management.

The IFA president, Mr Tom Parlon, reiterated his organisation's support for an assurance scheme, but said it was deficient as it had not included the supermarket, catering and restaurant sectors, which were the direct link between producers and the consumer.

"Full assurance must go right through from the farm gate to the consumer's plate," he said.