Restaurants may have to label beef’s origins

RESTAURANT and catering outlets in Ireland will be required under new regulations to indicate to their customers the origin of the beef sold on their premises.

The EU Farm Council decided earlier this week not to extend existing beef labelling requirements to the catering sector at this stage.

But the European Commission confirmed that individual member states may adopt national compulsory measures under the EU’s general labelling directive.

Current EU beef labelling regulations in relating to country of origin applies to all retail sales, but does not extend to beef sold in catering establishments. This gap in the regulations had been identified as a major labelling weakness by the Food Labelling Group.

Independent consumer research commissioned by the Department of Agriculture and Food Consumer Liaison Panel also showed consumer preference for country of origin labelling of beef in restaurants.

Minister Joe Walsh said yesterday the European Commission’s labelling report, which was discussed at the Farm Council, attributed much of the restored beef consumption levels within the EU to enhanced labelling.

“I am firmly of the view that consumers, whether purchasing beef over the counter or choosing beef in restaurants and catering establishments, have the right to know the origin of the product. The new labelling regulations will provide for this,” he said.