US bio-terrorism rules threaten food industry

NEW bio-terrorism regulations in the United States could cripple the Irish food industry, it was claimed yesterday.

Food lawyer Raymond O’Rourke warned Irish food companies to follow the regulations on registration, prior notification and record keeping. Otherwise, they could be locked out of the US market from December 12 .

He said the industry need not think that with a bit of persuasion from the Irish Government they will get an opt-out from these obligations, which have been introduced across the board.