Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
465. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a specific law that prohibits the FSAI from giving information to a member of the public enquiring from a human health perspective about which food business operators and retailers are processing animal products for human consumption imported from outside the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13669/26]
View answerThe Food Safety Authority of Ireland is the central competent authority maintaining responsibility for the food chain through service contracts with a number of government agencies and departments, and is under the aegis of the Department of Health.
Traceability in the food chain is provided for under Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 which requires that all food and feed businesses in the EU implement a traceability system based on the food business operators responsibility to maintain records of ‘one step forward and one step back’ which ensures that they can identify immediate suppliers and customers.
The legal obligations on the FSAI regarding the release of this information to the public is a matter for the FSAI and the Department of Health.
