The Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine has not fined any factories for excessive carcass trimming so far this year.
That is according to Minister Charlie McConalogue, who responded to a parliamentary question Independent TD for Laois-Offaly, Carol Nolan, raised.
The deputy asked the minister for the names of the factories the DAFM has fined for excessive carcass trimming from January 1st, 2016, to date.
In response, the minister explained that a “dedicated team of specialist staff” in the Beef Carcase Classification Section of his department carry out carcase classification and carcase presentation controls in 32 slaughter plants.
He said his department’s veterinary public health inspection staff (VPHIS) oversee additional monitoring of carcase presentation.
He revealed this is currently being implemented in “all” factories since January 1st, 2019. and provide a “supporting” role for Beef Carcase Classification staff.
“Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1184 of April 20th, 2017 governs the monitoring of carcase classification, carcase presentation and weighing. “
“At each inspection, an average of 85 carcasses are inspected for correct classification and carcase presentation. The legal requirement is 40 carcasses per inspection.”
Excessive carcass trimming
He summarised the number of inspections, the number of carcasses inspected, the total number of non-compliant carcasses and the respective factories:
| Number of | Total Number of | ||
| Year | Carcasses Inspected | Non-Compliant Carcasses | Names of Factories Fined |
| 2016 | 52,360 | 28 | Kildare Chilling Company (1); Traditional Meats (1); Meadow Meats (10) ; KEPAK Kilbeggan (16) |
| 2017 | 53,380 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 46,750 | 19 | Emerald Isle Foods (5) ; Kildare Chilling Company (3) ; KEPAK Clare (11) |
| 2019 | 49,300 | 3 | Kavanagh Meats (3) |
| 2020 | 34,425 | 2 | Ballon Meats (2) |
| 2021 | 23,545 | 0 |
Concluding, he highlighted that the DAFM published details of the factories it discovers to be non-compliant under carcase presentation legislation annually on its website.
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