§ 4.17 p.m.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, I beg to move that the draft Food Imitations (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1985, laid before the House on 21st June, be approved. The effect of the amendment is expressly to exclude products made entirely of food ingredients from the scope of the Food Imitations (Safety) Regulations 1985 (Statutory Instrument 1985 Number 99), which your Lordships approved on 28th January this year.
Such products are already excluded where they are "food" as defined in Section 131(1) of the Food Act 1984, since food (as so defined) is excluded from the definition of "goods" in Section 9(4) of the Consumer Safety Act 1978, under which the principal regulations were made. Under the latter Act, there is no power to make safety regulations in respect of things which are not "goods" as defined in Section 9(4) of the Act.
There are products made entirely from food ingredients—in particular, modelling compounds marketed for children to use in play. This has been verified by the Laboratory of the Government chemist and if ingested these products would be no more of a problem than food properly so called. My Lords, I commend this order to your Lordships' House.
§ Moved, That the draft regulations laid before the House on 21st June be approved. [26th Report from the Joint Committee.]—(Lord Brahazon of Tara.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.