§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEY () Somersetshire, STo ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will appoint a Committee, consisting of agriculturists and experts, to consider the advisability of setting up a standard for pure cider, and to consider what steps should be taken to prevent substitutes for cider being sold as cider.
(Answered by Mr. Hanbury.) The provisions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts should be sufficient to prevent the sale of adulterated cider, and I will instruct our inspectors to call the attention of local authorities to the subject as opportunity occurs. Cases of improper marking could be dealt with under the Merchandise Marks Acts. The setting up of a standard for cider would probably be a matter of considerable difficulty, and would certainly require fresh legislation. I hope that we shall obtain assistance in regard to such questions from the proposed Cider Institute, which would in that respect supply the place of the Committee suggested in the Question.