Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act, 1998

Food safety assurance schemes.

13.—(1) For the purposes of section 12 the Authority may, by itself or with such representatives of particular food business groups or organisations as it considers appropriate, establish schemes (in this section referred to as “food safety assurance schemes”) for the protection of consumer interests.

(2) The Authority shall promote, encourage and facilitate the establishment of food safety assurance schemes which shall be established upon the best available practices and standards of food safety and hygiene available and have available such documentation and other evidence relating to raw materials, processing, preparation, packaging, storage and labelling of foodstuffs, as the Authority considers appropriate for the protection of consumer interests.

(3) The Authority shall prepare guidelines to be observed by it in relation to the establishment of food safety assurance schemes.

(4) Any such guidelines shall require the approval of the Board, following consultation with the Scientific Committee.

(5) Subject to subsection (7), the Authority shall not participate in food safety assurance schemes.

(6) The Authority may endorse its approval of any food safety assurance scheme on any terms and conditions which the Board may stipulate following consultation with the Scientific Committee and the Authority may withdraw any such endorsement.

(7) The Authority shall monitor and report to the Board on the performance and implementation of food safety assurance schemes.

(8) The Authority may publish reports in relation to food safety assurance schemes.

(9) An official agency shall notify the Authority in relation to any food safety assurance scheme in which it is involved or supports and shall have regard to any advice of the Authority in relation to such involvement or support.