Archive for the 'Food safety' Category

Minister Sargent re-appointed Minister of State

Published 22 April, 2009 Community , Food safety , Food security , Grow Your Own Food , ireland Closed

22 April 2009

SARGENT GLAD OF RE-APPOINTMENT TO DEPTARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES & FOOD WITH EXTRA RESPONSIBIILITIES IN DEPT OF HEALTH & CHILDREN.

Local TD and Minister of State, Trevor Sargent has been given additional responsibilities by the Taoiseach to cover not just Food and Horticulture but now also Food Safety issues which means working with the Minister for Health and Children as well as with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

“The work to produce sufficient and varied healthy food is a challenge I am enthusiastic to meet head on. Full-time farmers need fair prices to cover the costs of good food production. Good value can be achieved for farmer and consumer with more diversity in the market. For example, Ireland has a shortage of farm shops and farmers markets. We also have a shortage of young farmers. My strategy is to bring about food security for Ireland by addressing all of these issues as well as helping more people to grow more of their own food in schools, at home, in allotments and in community gardens. My strategy will improve peoples’ health, community development and the country’s wealth, creating sustainable jobs and improving Ireland’s balance of payments at the same time“, said Minister Sargent.

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* Organic Pigmeat to Return to Market

Published 10 December, 2008 Food news , Food safety , Organics , food Closed
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10 December 2008

The Minister for Food and Horticulture, Trevor Sargent TD, has announced a procedure wherby organic pigmeat producers can retail their products. The procedure, agreed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food along with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland requires that the producer provide documentary proof of the safety of their produce.

Three stringent conditions are stipulated, as follows:

The Organic producer must provide documentary evidence to prove to DAFF or Local Authority Veterinary Officers that:

1.     No contaminated animal feed material from the Millstream Recycling Plant, Clohamon Mills, Co. Carlow was procured and consumed by animals on the particular farm from September 1st 2008.

2.     No pigs which had consumed contaminated material had been introduced onto that particular organic farm. Proof of the herd of origin must be supplied, which shows that no pigs originated from any holding restricted by DAFF.

3.     The pigs were not slaughtered and processed in premises which also handle pigs from farms where the contaminated animal feed material was used.

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* Visit to DAFF Laboratories, Backweston

Published 9 December, 2008 Food safety , food Closed
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9 December 2008

In the light of the recent recall of pork and bacon products following the detection of unacceptable levels of dioxins in a small number of samples, Minister Sargent paid a visit to the Laboratoryof the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Backweston, Celbridge, Co. Kildare. He wanted to inspect results obtained under the Department’s Routine National Residue Monitoring Programme. It was this rigorous testing scheme that first indicated that there might be an issue with some pigmeat.

During the visit, the Minister met with the Director Dr. Michael Gunn and senior members of staff. He was given an overview of the role of the laboratory and the specific roles and responsibilities of each section.

He also received an in-depth briefing on the processes and scientific methodologies used by the staff of the laboratory to support the analysis and risk assessment as part of the management of the pigmeat recall.

The Minister thanked staff members involved in the analysis work for the extraordinary level of commitment and professionalism which they have shown during the recent crisis. He also thanked those involved in developing an innovative improvement of the analysis process at the laboratory, which reduced cycle times and enabled results to be determined much more rapidly.

With Dr. Jim Garvey reviewing the equipment used to detect dioxins

With Dr. Jim Garvey reviewing the equipment used to detect dioxins

Here the Minister is shown the equipment and scientific methodologies used for detecting the presence of dioxin indicators by Dr. Jim Garvey, Quality Manager at the DAFF Laboratory, Backweston.

Dr. Dan O’Sullivan, Head of the Residues Division, Minister Trevor Sargent, Dr. Jim Garvey, Quality Manager and Dr. Michael Gunn, Director of the Laboratory.

Left to Right: Dr. Dan O’Sullivan, Head of the Residues Division, Minister Trevor Sargent, Dr. Jim Garvey, Quality Manager and Dr. Michael Gunn, Director of the Laboratory.

The Minister with Dr. Jim Garvey, Quality Manager, Dr. Dan O’Sullivan, Head of the Residues Division and Dr. Michael Gunn, Director of the DAFF Laboratory.

The Minister with Dr. Jim Garvey, Quality Manager, Dr. Dan O’Sullivan, Head of the Residues Division and Dr. Michael Gunn, Director of the Laboratory.

All images courtesy of C.Finn unless otherwise stated.

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