Antibiotics and Chemicals

HC Deb 18 July 1972 vol 841 cc380-2

10. Mr. Blaker

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he now proposes to take to control the import of foods from countries which permit the use of antibiotic additions in feeding stuffs, and agricultural chemicals for crop protection, which are banned in Great Britain on grounds of risk to health or the contamination of the environment.

Mr. Peter Mills

My right hon. Friend does not consider such action is necessary at present on either health or environmental grounds, but he is continuing to keep these matters under review.

Mr. Blaker

Do not we have the rather curious situation in which the British consumer is able to buy imported horticultural and agricultural foodstuffs which have been produced with the aid of chemicals that are banned to the home producer? Should not our position as the world's biggest importer of food give us a great deal of bargaining power in persuading other countries to adopt regulations similar to our own, and is that bargaining power being used?

Mr. Mills

I understand my hon. Friend's concern about these matters. We are watching the position closely. I do not believe that the hazard is as great as some people make out. We monitor imported meat especially, and certainly we are leading the world in restricting antibiotics in food.

Mr. Carter-Jones

Will the hon. Gentleman agree that if we have a ban on the use of these antibiotics, we have it for a good reason? If that is the case, is not it near criminal to allow such imports into the country if there is the possibility of contamination? Will the hon. Gentleman act now?

Mr. Mills

No. The hon. Gentleman is exaggerating slightly. I do not think that it is criminal. We are watching this problem. We are monitoring, as I have said, and action will be taken if the levels rise too much.

Mr. Carter-Jones

Why ban it for us?

Mr. Mark Hughes

Does the hon. Gentleman accept that under EEC regulations permitting the use of such antibiotics in feeding stuffs, we are not allowed to ban them? Does he accept, further, that we have accepted a position which forces our farmers to adopt a less advantageous method of producing meat, with consequential health hazards?

Mr. Mills

No. We are aware of the situation in the Community and we have obtained a five-year derogation from that part of the directive, during which time we hope that member States will adopt our policy.