Origin of food must be made clear

Full information must be available to consumers on the origin of food, Minister Joe Walsh declared yesterday.

He said he expected the European Commission's report on implementation of EU beef labelling regulations to be presented shortly to the EU Farm Council.

Mr Walsh, who is the council's current president, said he had been in contact with the EU Commission. He had asked that the requirement to indicate the country of origin be extended to the catering and food sector. Since the introduction of EU beef labelling regulations in 2000, the issue of providing information on the origin of beef served in restaurants and catering establishments has come to the fore in Ireland.