619. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the shelf life of imported beef coming from Mercosur countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51555/26]

Shelf-life is the period of time during which a food maintains its acceptable or desirable characteristics under specified storage and handling conditions. The shelf life of beef imported from Third Countries may be indicated by either a date of minimum durability (‘best before’) or a ‘use by’ date ,depending on the type of product- fresh, frozen, cured-and the processing it has undergone.

Products such as frozen meats are marked with a best before date and typically carry an extended shelf life of up to two years. Fresh meat which is highly perishable has a much shorter shelf life which is indicated by the use by date.