Controls in place to resume pork processing as talks continue

Talks between the Government and pig processors are continuing this evening.

In a statement, the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith has said that that all the necessary controls are now in place to enable the restoration of supplies to consumers.

However the return of pork to the shelves hinges on the outcome of the ongoing negotiations.

Minister Smith said that that all cleared pork products will carry a special label, developed by An Bord Bia, which will confirm to the public that they are perfectly safe to consume.

The label will verify that the products had no association with the potentially contaminated feed, which is the root of this crisis.

The controls will be implemented by Department, or local veterinary authority personnel at pigmeat slaughtering and processing plants.

The Minister said the purpose of the controls is to ensure that only pigmeat certified as coming from herds that are completely unaffected by the current dioxen contamination issue enters the food chain and is supplied to consumers.