Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
536. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health to detail the steps her Department is taking to ensure that processed meat products, such as chicken Kievs or pre-prepared meals, cannot use 'Product of Ireland' branding if the primary meat ingredient was hatched, reared or slaughtered in a non-EU country; and if he will address the impact of 'substantial transformation' rules on consumer clarity. [11119/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe overarching legislative 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). 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.
Article 26(3) of the EU FIC Regulation 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.
Prior to Regulation 2018/775, ‘substantial transformation’ was taken into account when determining country of origin information. With the introduction of Regulation 2018/775 where the origin of the primary ingredient is different from that of the food, that origin must be given, providing the consumer with additional information.
On the query raised by the Deputy relating to the labelling of processed meat products, such as chicken Kievs or pre-prepared meals, where the origin of a food or place of provenance is given and is different from its primary ingredient, the country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient of a food must also be given. 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.
Under service contracts with the FSAI, official agencies carry out risk-based inspections of food business operators to verify compliance with food information and labelling requirements set out in the EU FIC Regulation.
