The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has reported that twenty-eight (28) Enforcement Notices and one (1) Prohibition Order were served on seafood businesses during 2023 for breaches of food safety legislation pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Food & Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2020. The comparable figure for 2022 was twenty-seven enforcement actions. The Enforcement Notices and Prohibition Order were issued by Sea-Fisheries Protection Officers during risk based official controls. No closure orders were issued over this period. Three (3) prosecutions were initiated by the SFPA for offences under food safety law in 2023. One prosecution concluded in 2023 with convictions and fines imposed for breaches of regulatory requirements in relation to hygiene, traceability, and product storage. Two of the prosecutions involve charges of alleged obstruction of officers in the course of their duties.
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority is the Official Agency with responsibility for the enforcement of food law in the Seafood Sector up to the point of retail. Included under this remit is the assessment of food safety controls across the sea-fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The SFPA has responsibility for the enforcement across a range of over 2,200 business operations nationally.
Sea-Fisheries Protection Officers carried out 423 inspections in 2023 in land-based establishments and freezer/factory vessels undertaking activities that require approval under Regulation 853/2004 on specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin based on the risk associated with the establishment and the processes undertaken.
Commenting on the 2023 figures, SFPA Executive Chairperson Paschal Hayes said: “Protecting seafood safety is a central element of our remit as a regulatory authority. Assuring consumer trust in the quality, provenance, and safety of our seafood produce is critical to achieving the collective ambitions of the sector. The SFPA, for its part, is committed to developing and supporting a culture of regulatory compliance across the seafood sector. The relatively low level of non-compliance found illustrates the considerable efforts being made by most seafood businesses to work within the regulations, as well as the robust inspection system in place to assure and, where necessary, to enforce compliance.”
Ends
Note to Editor:
During 2023, there were 28 enforcement notices served by SFPA inspectorate as follows:
- 13 Compliance Notices under S.I. 22/2020 – European Union (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2020
- 1 Prohibition Order under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998
- 4 Improvement Notices under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998
- 11 Fixed Payment Notices under S.I. 22/2020 – European Union (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2020.
(Note: All figures provided are provisional.)