HC Deb 27 July 1961 vol 645 cc576-7
4. Mr. Mathew

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to prohibit descriptive printing and labels on butter which imply that wholly or partially imported butter is wholly home produced.

Mr. Soames

It is already an offence under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887, to apply to any goods a false description as to the place or country in which the goods are produced. In addition, the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, makes it an offence to label a food with a false description.

Mr. Mathew

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I have studied with great care the Answer which he has given to certain of my hon. Friends on this matter? Will not he now cut through the whole bureaucratic and administrative tangle and take steps to make new regulations of a simple character which will give proper protection both to the British producer and to the consumer and avoid any chance of misleading the public or anybody else?

Mr. Soames

I do not think that the situation today is very complicated inasmuch that it is open to anyone to prosecute under the Merchandise Marks Act. It is a common informer Act and anyone can prosecute under it. That remedy is available in the courts.

Mr. Darling

Is it not the fault of this now out-of-date legislation that the onus for taking legal action falls upon the customer, who probably does not want to get involved in legal proceedings? Should not there be a duty on the Minister to take action when anything of this type comes along?

Mr. Soames

It need not be done only by the customer; the county council or the Milk Marketing Board can do it under the Merchandise Marks Act.