System controls see pork and bacon get all-clear
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Brendan Smith, who announced the move last night, said these controls, which were developed since Sunday, allow those in the pig meat industry to resume the supply and sale of Irish pork and bacon products.
Mr Smith’s statement came as the Government continued marathon talks with pig processors that would ensure a resumption of slaughtering and the industry’s future viability.
Meanwhile, the Association of Craft Butchers of Ireland (ACBI) announced that local authority vets have started to release safe product.
The association said it was delighted these vets have begun to certify some product as safe for release for sale from local authority-controlled plants, following evidence that its provenance is fully safe and not from contaminated herds.
“This is what should have happened first before any recall in our view but we welcome this and call for it to be accelerated. This means that product is starting to become available to craft butchers and things are beginning to return to normal,” said the ACBI.
A label, which will be used on pig meat products produced before September 1 and after December 7, was also launched by Bord Bia.
The label, which is published in the national media today, will also be used on products produced during this same period and which have been verified by the Department of Agriculture as being unaffected.
Mr Smith said the controls, to allow the sale of Irish pork and bacon, will be implemented by his department or local veterinary authority personnel at pig meat slaughtering and processing plants.
The purpose of the controls is to ensure that only pig meat certified as coming from herds that are completely unaffected by the current feed contamination enters the food chain and is supplied to consumers.
“The decisive and rapid action to remove all pork and bacon products from shelves allows us to restore supplies in which the consumer can have full confidence,” he said.
Bord Bia chief executive Aidan Cotter said maintaining market confidence in the Irish meat industry both here and abroad, is an absolute priority.
“We will continue to work with the industry to assure customers of the safety and quality of Irish meat,” he said.
In another development, Breeo Foods, the company which markets the pork brands Galtee, Shaws, Roscrea and Barcastle said its products will be back on retail shelves today.
The company said because Irish pork is not currently available, it was temporarily sourcing all of its pork meat requirements from EU suppliers outside Ireland.
A company spokesman said in order to defend the position of the Irish industry on retail shelves and allow its customers to enjoy their favourite products, it had no alternative but to urgently source alternative supplies of EU-approved pig meat on a temporary basis.
“As the owner of a number of Ireland’s leading brands, Breeo Foods is one of the three largest buyers of Irish pig meat and we remain highly supportive of the Irish pig meat industry.
“We will resume the purchase of Irish pig meat as soon as supplies become readily available and it is our hope that this will be possible within days,” he said.
* Specific details of the control arrangements are available on the department’s website www.agriculture.gov.ie
A special helpline number is available at 1800 30 30 52.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
