I propose to take Questions Nos. 370, 371 and 372 together.
I propose to take PQs 370, 371 and 372 together.
Ireland is among the largest exporters of beef in the Northern hemisphere.The volume of Irish exports in 2022 amounted to 492,000 tonnes of beef valued at more than €2.5 billion. Exports of beef to the UK alone were valued at approximately €1.1 billion. This compares to 37,000 tonnes of imports to Ireland in that period.
The Irish beef sector is therefore critically dependent on international trade, and therefore on the rules based order under WTO rules, EU Single Market rules, and the Trade and Co-operation Agreement agreed between the EU and UK post Brexit. Ireland Ireland cannot unilaterally depart from the rules that govern international trade, but if it did, the impact of reciprocal action from our trading partners could be absolutely catastrophic for our export dependent agri food sector.
Any meat imported from third countries including Great Britain is subject to certification requirements and the import control system operated by my Department at border control posts. The traceability standards of Irish beef are strictly enforced through our regulatory system.
Under EU law, there is specific country of origin labelling which forms part of the broader labelling legislation. A total of 160 meat premises are approved by my Department and it has a permanent veterinary presence at the 49 premises which slaughter animals and carries out risk-based audits, inspections, and official controls at the remaining approved meat premises.
My Department is responsible for ensuring that approved meat plants operate in compliance with harmonised EU rules. Approximately 250 veterinary and technical staff are routinely involved in supervising, regulating and controlling these standards at DAFM-approved meat plants.
These standards include the correct labelling of products and my officials based in these plants carry out constant monitoring through audit and inspection of labelling and traceability requirements. Labelling and traceability non-compliances can be considered fraudulent activities. There is a process in place for reporting any identified non-compliances and a range of sanctions can be applied including withdrawal of approval and prosecution of the food business if fraud is detected.