Government Take an Integrated Approach to Food Safety "Customers Want Safe and Hygienic Food"

Mr. Noel Treacy, TD, Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce, today, (Wednesday 11th October, 2000) in his address to the NSAI Annual Conference, "Food Safety - From Farm to Fork" , spoke of the need to recognise that laws and the enforcement of laws, were not sufficient in themselves to ensure the best standards in food safety. Minister Treacy said that, "recently there has been a whole new approach to the way that food hygiene rules are now been written. Once the regulations were quite prescriptive, in that the do’s and don’ts were set down in detail. Now the law specifies the objectives which have to be reached, but does not prescribe in as much detail how to reach those objectives".

"The National Standards Authority of Ireland play an important role in assisting Irish food producers, processors and retailers to meet these guidelines. It is very encouraging to see the proactive demand from the Irish food sector for the NSAI’s services. This partnership approach, between industry representatives and state agencies in developing best practice food hygiene standards will ensure that Irish food maintains an excellent reputation at home and abroad", said Minister Treacy.

Minister Treacy reiterated the Government’s absolute commitment to food safety as outlined in the "Action Programme for a new Millennium" and praised the work of the three Agencies involved in food safety in Ireland. The Government’s integrated approach to food safety includes the recently established Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the Food Safety Promotion Board set up under the Good Friday Agreement and the NSAI, which develops and publishes sector specific hygiene guides in Ireland and on a European wide basis.

"In protecting the safety of our food, we must all play our part - Government, enforcement agencies, industry - both employer and employee - and the consumer", Minister Treacy concluded.

Speakers included Darina Allen, Ballymaloe Cookery School, Senator Feargal Quinn, Chief Executive, Superquinn, Raymond Ellard, Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Steve Harrold, Managing Director, Coca-Cola Ireland, John Donnelly, Managing Director, International Meat Ingredients, Dr. Chris Thomas, NSAI and Dr. Sean Moroney, NSAI.

The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is the Government body which is responsible for the publication of national standards in Ireland. The NSAI provides a comprehensive product and management systems certification service and also works to establish confidence in trade measurements. The work of the NSAI falls into four distinct areas: Standards Development, Certification Services, Irish Agrément Board and Legal Metrology Service.

NSAI: Jim Harding, Public Relations Officer, Telephone: (01) 807 3835 Mobile: (087) 6287866

Kinman Public Relations: Aideen Fitzgerald / Laurie Mannix Telephone: (01) 678 8330.