I propose to take Questions Nos. 678, 679, 681, 682, 683 and 684 together.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 66575/26, 66573/26, 66572/26, 66564/26, 66553/26 and 66551/26 together
The Department of Health is aware of the amendments made by the United Kingdom to its Bread and Flour Regulations, which provide for the mandatory addition of folic acid to non-wholemeal wheat flour from 13 December 2026 following a transition period.
The Department is aware that the introduction of UK-fortified flour may result in products containing folic acid becoming available on the Irish market, including breads, biscuits, cakes and pastries made using fortified flour.
The Department and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) have engaged with industry on the implications of these changes, including representatives of the milling, baking and food manufacturing sectors and UK flour millers.
Food information requirements in Ireland are harmonised at EU level under Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers. Food business operators are responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable food information, labelling and traceability requirements.
Products placed on the Irish market must continue to comply with all applicable food safety, compositional and labelling requirements, including the obligation to provide accurate ingredient information on food labels. Businesses sourcing flour and flour-containing products from the United Kingdom have been advised to engage with their suppliers and ensure continued compliance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters relating to food labelling, traceability, food business compliance and enforcement are within the remit of the relevant food regulatory authorities. The FSAI have engaged with relevant stakeholders regarding existing food law requirements and the application of food information, labelling and traceability rules and will continue to engage with affected businesses regarding the implications of the UK measures. The FSAI has published www.fsai.ie/consumer-advice/food-labelling/uk-flour-fortified-with-folic-acid-q-a.
regarding UK Flour Fortified with Folic Acid and www.fsai.ie/business-advice/labelling/labelling-%E2%80%93-guidance-for-sourcing-uk-flour-fortifi. for sourcing UK flour fortified with folic acid.
In relation to the notification of the Northern Ireland legislation, the UK Government notified the European Commission under the Windsor Framework on 8 February 2024, while the relevant UK and devolved administrations notified the World Trade Organization of the planned legislative changes on 9 February 2024. The European Commission's TRIS notification records the Northern Ireland measure and the subsequent regulatory process.
My Department has also engaged with the European Commission regarding the implications of the UK regulatory changes for Irish food business operators. In correspondence issued in September 2025, the Department drew the Commission’s attention to concerns raised by Irish stakeholders regarding the implications of the UK amendments, including issues relating to sourcing, implementation and compliance.
Ireland did not submit an objection, observation, comment or reservation through the World Trade Organization notification process or, insofar as Northern Ireland is concerned, through the relevant European Commission notification process in relation to the United Kingdom’s folic acid fortification measures. The Department’s focus has been on assessing the implications of the measures for Ireland and engaging with stakeholders and the European Commission regarding their potential impact on Irish food business operators and the Irish market.
According to the latest Central Statistics Office trade statistics provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland imported 176,883 tonnes of wheat flour from the United Kingdom in 2025, valued at approximately €103 million. These imports represented 69% of total Irish wheat flour imports by volume and 67% by value. Of these UK imports, 124,795 tonnes (€68 million) originated in Great Britain and 52,088 tonnes (€34 million) originated in Northern Ireland.
These figures relate to recorded wheat flour imports and should not be interpreted as a precise measure of the proportion of all flour used or placed on the Irish market.
In February 2026, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD and Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD announced an initiative to financially back new flour mills in Ireland. This initiative will support investment in modern and efficient processing facilities and reduce the reliance on international flour imports, thus improving supply chain resilience.
Stakeholders from the milling, baking and food manufacturing sectors have identified practical implications arising from the UK measures, including supplier transition timelines, sourcing arrangements, product reformulation, packaging and labelling updates and traceability considerations.
The Department and the FSAI will continue to engage with stakeholders and relevant authorities regarding the implications of the UK measures for the Irish market.
