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DAFM seized 80t of illegal meat at ports and airports last year

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) seized a total of 80.48t of illegal meat at Dublin and Rosslare ports and at Shannon and Dublin airports in 2024. According to DAFM, the figure comprised 'seizures of commercial and personal consignments which includes products seized at temporary storage facilities and from passenger baggage'. Separately, latest figures suggest that in 2025 DAFM has also seized in the region of 79.21t of commercial consignment 'food products' at Dublin Port and Dublin Airport. According to latest figures, the department also identified and removed 6.02t of 'personal consignments' including products seized at Temporary Storage Facilities (TSFs) and in passenger baggage. Commercial food consignments are subject to documentary, identity, physical, sampling and, if necessary, laboratory inspections to confirm that they are in compliance with EU legislation. DAFM According to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, food consignments that do not comply with strict requirements 'are rejected and are either destroyed, re-exported to the country of origin or are subjected to special treatment under the control of DAFM, to mitigate the risk associated with non-compliance'. The Social Democrats TD, Aidan Farrelly, had asked the minister to specify the penalties that currently apply to individuals that fail to declare they are bringing in commercial amounts of food to Ireland. Minster Heydon said that if an individual fails to comply with Ireland's regulations 'they are liable on summary conviction, to a class a fine or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both, or on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €500,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both'. 'For a small number of summary offences, a fixed payment notice of €250 may be served in lieu of prosecution,' he added. DAFM can also issue Import Control Notices which are enforceable by law.