The Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (FSAI) Food Safety Consultative Council was established under the FSAI Act, 1998. The present Council, the first to be appointed in 2001, held its inaugural meeting in April of that year. It is a great pleasure to present our first annual report. This report describes the activities that the Council undertook in 2001.
The Council represents a cross section of Irish society and includes consumers and food industry exemplars. Each of the 22 members has been appointed by either the Minister for Health and Children or the FSAI Board. Each member acts individually and on a voluntary, unpaid basis. The Council is committed to advancing food safety.
The Council met four times in its first year, with various working groups meeting on other ad hoc occasions. Through this process, the members have established a rapport and have gained an understanding of the diverse walks of life from which they come.
The objectives of the Food Safety Consultative Council are to:
• Advise the FSAI Board on specific issues
• Enable the FSAI to discharge its function to consult widely for the purposes of promoting higher food safety
standards
• Progress the food safety agenda.
Safe food of high quality is required for the protection of consumers' interests, for the success of all sectors
of the Irish food industry and is the foundation stone for a vibrant tourist industry. All the stakeholders from farm to fork have a shared responsibility for producing safe food. It is important that the national inspectorate and all sectors of the food industry work together efficiently to ensure that high standards prevail in Ireland.
We intend to hold open meetings, in order that the mechanics of the Council can be observed by the public.
I would like to thank my fellow Council members for their time, effort and valuable contributions to the Council.
Finally, I would also like to thank Dr Daniel O’Hare, Chairman of the FSAI Board, the FSAI Board,Dr Patrick Wall, Chief Executive and the staff of the FSAI for their support of the work of the Council.
The food industry and all consumers benefit from their selfless commitment to food safety.
