HQ opens in rural Meath

A MONASTIC-STYLE modern building in the heart of the Irish countryside is playing a crucial role in protecting the health of Europe's 390 million food consumers.

Inspectors from the European Union’s purpose-built Food and Veterinary Office located on a nine hectare landscaped site at Grange in Co Meath carry out checks worldwide as part of their remit.

They are responsible for ensuring that EU rules on food, live animals and plant products are kept, within the community itself and in countries exporting to it.