The delay in reaching agreement in the North was putting consumers' health and food exports at risk, the head of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland said yesterday.
Dr Patrick Wall told the Agricultural Science Association annual conference in Waterford that an effective network of laboratories, a specialist laboratory facility and national surveillance were to be part of the proposed All-Ireland Food Safety Promotion Board.
"These activities have been parked pending the outcome of the Good Friday agreement. However, we cannot allow political inertia to get in the way of progress as delay in proceeding with these initiatives puts consumers' health and food exports at risk," he said.
"The relevant Government departments, Agriculture, Environment, Health and Children, Marine and Natural Resources and Enterprise and Employment, Bord Bia, Teagasc and the Food Safety Authority need to get together with the key players in the food industry to build a framework to support Ireland, the food island." He said one food scare could do irreparable damage to the industry. The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, who officially opened the conference, said he was disappointed at the lack of progress in setting up the all-Ireland body.
"I would like to see that structure in place and there is no other agenda other than giving our customers, at home and worldwide, food which is safe," he said.
Mr John Moloney, chief executive of Glanbia Ingredients, said the Irish food industry had evolved significantly and has a reputation for quality and safe food based on extensive and natural farming systems. High levels of integration in the food chain offered Ireland an opportunity to deliver unparalleled levels of traceability and quality assurance to consumers.