Other Agencies
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is responsible for the enforcement of all 'food legislation' in Ireland. The Authority carries out this enforcement function through "service contracts" with official agencies. Section 48 of the FSAI Act, 1998 gives the legislative basis for this. These contracts outline an agreed level and standard of food safety activity that the agencies perform as agents of the Authority.
The agencies involved in food safety compliance are:
County Councils
Health Service Executive
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
The Marine Institute
The National Standards Authority of Ireland
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority
Alongside Service Contract Agencies, there are also Memorandums of Understanding in place between the FSAI and other enforcement agencies:
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Loughs Agency
Revenue and Customs
Safefood
A 'Memorandum of Understanding' sets out a framework for co-operation in their food safety activities where a service contract is a legal agreement to enforce food safety legislation.