LESSONS LEARNED FROM PORK SCARE
Monday, January 12th, 2009
Bobby Aylward, T.D. and member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture which is assessing official reaction to the pork scare, believes useful lessons have been learned in its aftermath.
“The Joint Committee is convening throughout the month of January to assess the handling of the pork recall and to question the Secretary General, key officials of the Department of Agriculture and Food, and various other personnel about its response to the contamination scare. In particular, we are anxious to establish what progress has been made to date to ensure that stability is restored to the pigmeat industry and the export market and to see what systems can be put in place to safeguard against this type of debacle recurring in the future”, Bobby Aylward, T.D., said.
He continued: “The Secretary General of the Department, Mr. Tom Moran, has presented a comprehensive account to us of the events which led to the pork recall and replied to a series of questions from Committee Members about the proportionality of the Department’s response, the traceability and monitoring of licensed premises, the level of inspections and analyses carried out by the Department, the Pigmeat Recall Scheme, and the market situation, both nationally and internationally”.
“The total value of output in our pigmeat sector, including value-added products, is €1.1 billion and the industry employs 7,500 people. In 2007, 188,000 tonnes of pigmeat were produced in this country and the value of our exports to over thirty countries was €368 million. In that context, it is extremely important that we learn concrete lessons from last year’s scare and that we put sound mechanisms in place to reduce the likelihood of any recurrence. In the light of the experience gained, we will be able to evaluate our contingency arrangements and to revise them where necessary”.
“While most of our pigmeat markets have re-opened, exports are still suspended in some non-EU markets. Our marketing and trade promotion are focussed on allaying any lingering consumer concerns and ensuring that the high reputation of Irish pork is restored as quickly as possible. The Department, An Bord Bia and our diplomats abroad are concentrating on reassuring our customers about the safety and quality of Irish pigmeat. This week, the Minister is on a high-level trade mission to Japan with the Taoiseach where this issue will be raised. Trade officials will also visit other important Asian markets as part of this deliberate marketing offensive”.
“The Secretary General has reassured us that his Department has identified a number of specific areas where our systems can be improved. In consultation with the EU, the Department is examining the potential to improve traceability so that in the event of any future recalls, it may be possible to minimise their impact. It is also recognised that more attention needs to be given to ensuring that all those involved in the production, processing, transport, or any other process along the food chain, meet their legal obligations in full to absolutely guarantee the safety of that food”.
“We were also told that there is an important public health dimension to the Department’s meat hygiene service and that there is a clear need to verify that those who slaughter and process meat products destined for human consumption comply fully with EU
and national hygiene legislation. The Department, along with the relevant State Agencies, will also undertake a complete review of last year’s incident including the scope and quality of the risk assessment procedures which are used in the feed inspection programme. The Department has already taken action in a number of areas including the usage and regulation of oil and oil products in the manufacture of feeds”.
“In case there are any problems in the pigmeat market over the coming months, the EU-funded aid to the private storage scheme should provide some necessary breathing space. The scheme will allow temporary storage of 30,000 tonnes of the product for up to six months and has a potential value to the sector of €15 million”
“The Committee will meet again this week and next to hear from both the Irish and the European Food Safety Authority, Professor Pat Wall, An Bord Bia, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Minister for Health and the Chief Medical Officer, representatives from the IFA and representatives of pig processors. This forum provides a very useful opportunity for us to probe those who are responsible for official action and for applying the rules in this area and it also allows us to assess how appropriate our systems are in terms of efficacy and efficiency”, concluded Deputy Aylward.