This pioneering Food Incident Management Plan was formulated so that State agencies in Ireland involved in food can co-operate and co-ordinate their response to food alerts or incidents in a fast and efficient manner, in the interest of the health of the consumer. A complementary purpose is to minimise the impact on Irish based companies by ensuring that any restrictions on their business are based on the best possible information, knowledge and science, and are proportionate to the risk involved.
Over the recent past and particularly in Europe, there has been a succession of food scares. Whether these scares present real or perceived threats, their effect can be to seriously damage consumer confidence in the food supply, and undermine confidence in the food sector as a whole. Now under this plan, the State agencies that have a role in the food sector have worked out their distinct but complementary roles in future food safety alerts.
The plan describes the incident notification procedures, the formation of an Incident Co-ordination Team, and sets out the role of each State agency. The lead State agency in this plan is the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. The plan envisages the direct involvement, as appropriate, of Bord Glas, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Bord Bia. Other State agencies will have a supportive and communications role. The plan also sets down the important roles of other official agencies directly involved in food control, such as Government Departments, local authorities and health boards.
In any food incident or food scare, the overriding concern is to ensure the protection of consumer health. Consumers can only have confidence in their food supply, and consequently in the food sector in Ireland, when they know, and are assured that their health and safety is the central priority,and that the combined resources of the State agencies are focused on such a strategy.
