Michael Fitzmaurice Questions Traceability of Imported Cooked Chicken
Michael Fitzmaurice questioned the Food Safety Authority of Ireland about traceability of imported meat and documentation, seeking clarification on whether third-country meat, including cooked vacuum-packed chicken from China, is entering Ireland. He asked whether traceability records are held on a digital database by the FSAI or maintained individually by food business operators.
Questions on third-country meat
He asked whether meat processors are bringing third-country meat into Ireland and requested that the matter be answered officially by the competent authority.
Cooked chicken from China
He put forward a specific clarification he had received about cooked, vacuum-packed chicken coming into Ireland from China and asked FSAI to confirm whether that was accurate.
Record-keeping and traceability responsibility
He asked whether traceability records are maintained on a digital database by FSAI or held individually by each food business operator. FSAI responded that the maintenance of the records is the responsibility of the food business, and that FSAI and its inspection partners can access those records.
Exchange and immediate outcome
Following the exchange, he asked for an official reply from FSAI and, after clarification from the authority, concluded his questions and thanked the chair.
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UNDER THE TRACES SYSTEM AND THE DOCUMENTATION, IS THERE MEAT PROCESSORS BRINGING IN THIRD COUNTRY MEAT INTO IRELAND? I HAVE ONLY TWO MINUTES, PLEASE. I'M NOT SURE. CAN YOU COME BACK AND ANSWER IT? I PRESUME THERE IS, DEPUTY. CAN YOU COME BACK AND ANSWER IT OFFICIALLY? TO FSAI, WOULD THIS BE RIGHT, BECAUSE I HAVE ONE CLARIFICATION ON THIS, FROM INFORMATION I'VE RECEIVED, IS IT ACCURATE TO SAY THAT THIS COOKED CHICKEN VACUUM PACKED COMING INTO IRELAND FROM CHINA? CAN WE TAKE THAT AWAY? YEAH. NO PROBLEM. AND THE LAST QUESTION, THE WAY I'LL TRY AND GET IT, FSAI, YOU'RE THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY FOR FOOD TRACEBILITY THROUGHOUT THE FOOD CHAIN FORMED FORK IN IRELAND. I KNOW THIS SYSTEM INVOLVES A ONE-UP, ONE-DOWN RESPONSIBILITY ON EACH FOOD BUSINESS OPERATOR WITHIN THE CHAIN. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW, ARE THESE RECORDS MAINTAINED ON A DIGITAL DATABASE BY YOURSELF OR INDIVIDUALLY BY THE FOOD OPERATOR? THE MAINTENANCE OF THE RECORDS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FOOD BUSINESS. SO YOU DON'T KEEP ANY RECORDS OF THAT? YEAH, BUT WE CAN ACCESS THEM AS CAN OUR PARTNERS WHO UNDERTAKE THE INSPECTIONS. OKAY, THAT'S ALL. THANKS, CHAIR. SON. THANKS, CHAIR. THANKS, CHAIR.
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