Tuesday, February 9, 2010 Previous editions
Thursday, October 15, 2009
THE economic downturn has weakened Ireland’s ability to impose food safety controls, a new survey reveals.
Senior personnel from the 38 state agencies working under contract to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) are having to cut back on policing the food sector because of a recruitment embargo.
More than 40% admitted that the recession had impacted negatively on food safety controls for which they were responsible.
And almost 50% raised concerns about the effect the recession was having on safety controls already undertaken by the food sector.
Details of the survey were released at a conference in Dublin to mark the FSAI’s 10th anniversary.
FSAI chief executive Prof Alan Reilly said the current recruitment moratorium in the civil service had resulted in a reduction in the number of planned inspections this year.
Prof Reilly said the ability of the food sector to police itself had also been affected by staff reductions.
"It does put us in a weaker position and, as time goes on, we are likely to get weaker still," he admitted.
Prof Reilly said the best way to tackle the situation was to reassign staff, look again at priorities and target resources accordingly.
He said it was imperative that Ireland’s reputation as a significant food exporting nation was protected during these unprecedented times.
"Over the past 10 years, Ireland has developed a sophisticated food safety inspectorate team which is considered world class and cited as a case study by the World Health Organisation," he pointed out.
According to the FSAI survey, 80% of personnel in the official agencies believe that the authority had contributed to raising standards in the food business.
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