§ 35. Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce regulations prohibiting the use in food of all dyes not proved to be harmless, pending the results of the complete investigation by the British Industrial Biological Research Association.
§ Mr. HoyNo, Sir; but I am now considering what amendments are required to current regulations in the light of the Report of the Food Standards Committee on Colouring Matters and the representations I have received about the recommendations made in the Report.
§ Mrs. ButlerIn view of the public concern about the widespread use of dyes in foodstuffs and the lack of informative labelling on the subject, would the Minister show more urgency than the previous Minister did, at least in implementing the Report of the Food Standards Committee and its demand for a ban on the six suspect chemicals, which was made four months ago in July?
§ Mr. HoyYes, I am aware of the concern. I think we shall be able to expedite matters and give a reply very soon. We realise how important it is that goods are labelled so that the consumer knows what he is buying.