HL Deb 01 July 2003 vol 650 cc721-3

2.43 p.m.

Earl Ferrers

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether European Union regulations are being drawn up which will prevent the use of smoke-flavoured additives in food.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner)

My Lords, a European Union regulation bringing controls on the use of smoke flavourings in food into line with existing controls for other food additives has been proposed. The proposal would prevent only the use of smoke flavourings that present risks to the consumer.

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply, but does he agree that the introduction of such constraints will affect the smoky bacon crisp industry, the smoked salmon industry and all the others? Does he further agree that, in the end, those are only flavourings, and that one would have to eat a monumental amount of such food—as a result of which one would die of obesity and a heart attack—before one would ever die of cancer?

Lord Warner

My Lords, let me reassure the noble Earl that his ability to consume smoky bacon crisps will remain unaltered by the regulation. Smoke flavourings are produced from condensed wood smoke, which contains substances known to be harmful to human health, especially those called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—of which I am sure every member of the House will be well aware—which are known to cause cancer in humans.

Traditionally smoked foods, such as kippers and smoked salmon, to which the noble Earl referred. would be unaffected by the proposed regulation. The regulation is likely to require the assessment of no more than 20 primary products from which all smoke flavourings are produced, none of which is produced in the UK.

Lord Clement-Jones

My Lords, is this not just the thin end of the wedge? Are not exactly the same chemicals contained in smoked foods such as kippers or smoked cheese?

Lord Warner

My Lords, I am reliably advised that traditionally smoked foods, such as kippers and smoked salmon will not be affected by the proposed regulation. Smoke contains certain chemicals that are of health concern, hut it is the primary products that are the cause of concern.

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, is this not another example of the European Union going over the top? What peer review has been undertaken by doctors on the carcinogenic effects of polcyclic aromatic polycarbons?

Lord Warner

My Lords, other member states have quite strict controls on smoke flavours. As I mentioned, the primary products that produce those flavourings represent a hazard to human health. If I may, I dare to say that this is an example of the EU protecting UK consumers from potentially dangerous products manufactured abroad. I know how many Conservative Members are interested to know about the benefits of belonging to the European Union.

Lord Tanlaw

My Lords, what of the smokies of Arbroath? The noble Lord did not include them. The terms "smokies" and "Arbroath" are synonymous. Can he assure us that that product is excluded from the regulation?

Lord Warner

My Lords, if it is a traditionally smoked product, it will be covered by my earlier remarks.

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, does it make a difference from where the smoke comes? For instance, smoked salmon proudly boasts that it comes from oak chippings. Is smoke regardless bad for one's health? Is it the end of bonfires? Is it the end of barbecues?

Lord Warner

My Lords, we are discussing the production of the primary products that would lead to smoke flavourings. We are not discussing barbecues, and so on, in this Question.

Lord Livsey of Talgarth

My Lords, is the Minister aware that blow torches are used with some meat—lamb, in fact—for minority use? Some of that meat is not properly cooked and is the subject of investigation by environmental health authorities. Does he have any plans to keep a register of those retail outlets, which are causing great health concern?

Lord Warner

My Lords, if the noble Lord will write to the appropriate Minister, I am sure that he will take up those concerns. The Question concerns smoke-flavoured additives to food.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

My Lords, if those additives were dangerous, why were they allowed in the first place?

Lord Warner

My Lords, what I am saying in answer to the Question is that there are controls on those additives in other countries. That concern has been brought to the attention of other members of the European Union and the regulations will deal with the issue in due course.

Baroness Sharpies

My Lords, can the Minister tell us how many prime products there are?

Lord Warner

My Lords, as I said earlier, there are 20 primary products, all of which are produced overseas.

Viscount Simon

My Lords, if smoking were banned in public places, what would be the status of food flavoured with tobacco smoke?

Lord Warner

My Lords, I do not think that I can give any advice on passive exposure to smoky bacon crisps.