Tom Hayes, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine recently launched the Irish Country Markets updated guide to good hygiene practice
Minister Hayes commented on the positive impact of these markets to both the local and tourist. He said that “As well as providing a very immediate interaction between producers and customers – instant, on-the-spot market research, so to speak – markets like these are the ideal location for sampling local and innovative speciality foods”.
The Minister went on to say that “Ireland’s experience has been that consumer confidence is essential for the development of the food industry at all levels. This is particularly true at local level where the consumer is confident that the food product bought at the local market is both safe and of a high quality”.
Minister Hayes referred to the need to maintain a very high standard of food safety at all levels. He said that he believed that local farm and food markets in particular have developed a unique identity of producing high quality food. He continued that “Irish consumers like to support local food producers and recent research has indicated that seven out of ten adults consider buying local produce is important when they are shopping for food”.
Minister Hayes continued “food safety requires in the first place best practice from all in the food chain and appropriate responsibility being accepted by each operator along that chain. In addition, there must be objective, independent, and transparent systems for ensuring maintenance of high standards and prompt and pro-active measures taken where risks emerge”.
Minister Hayes acknowledged the collaboration between the Irish Country Markets, The Food safety Authority of Ireland and the Environmental Health Service of the Health Service Executive in the development of this new guide. He said that he “can see that it is an invaluable asset to those involved in this work”.
