Nine months later, country of origin health rules still flouted
That Food Safety Authority radio promotion is effectively delivering a necessary message — but it is only a small part of the job which needs to be done to put Irish farm produce in its proper place.
Bord Bia is re-activating promotion of the Feile Bia initiative, which has achieved a measure of success, but leaves a lot more to be done. Imported meat is still being served to consumers in Irish hotels and restaurants every day without any indication of its origin, more than nine months after Minister Mary Coughlan introduced the Health (Country of Origin of Beef) Regulations, requiring catering establishments to communicate to the consumer, information on the country of origin of beef. Customers who question the source of beef, lamb or chicken have experienced a variety of responses. Some are told that they don’t know, but they could find out, others that it is Irish, but they don’t have any proof.
Most customers are at least doubtful about the accuracy of what they are told, but do not want to make a fuss.
The percentage of premises serving food which are affiliated to Bord Bia is considerable. It is unfair to these proprietors that the opposition across the road or in the neighbouring town can get away with the impression of serving Irish food when in fact they are purchasing cheaper supplies from far afield, sometimes from sources where the standards of production are questionable.
The Food Safety Authority have a lot of work still to do, to ensure the regulations are implemented and complied with as quickly as possible. Bord Bia, too, must constantly monitor affiliated premises to maintain the credibility of Feile Bia.
