§ Sir A. Bossomasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, seeing that so many food products are imported into this country, he will take action to ensure that British dealers indicate which products are British and which are foreign, so that purchasers may know what they are buying.
§ Mr. HareUnder the Merchandise Marks Act of 1926, Orders in Council have been made requiring an indication of origin in respect of apples, dried vine fruit, honey, eggs, raw tomatoes, butter, margarine, bacon, ham, dead poultry, meat, frozen and chilled salmon and sea trout. These Orders are made on the recommendation of a Standing Committee set up under the Act, following representations from interests substantially affected.
The Act also requires that imported goods which bear the name or trade mark of a British manufacturer or trader shall carry a clear indication of origin. The method is prescribed in the Act itself.
A further safeguard for purchasers is provided by the Labelling of Food Order, which requires the name and address of the packer to be shown on all prepacked foods. I have no power to require British dealers to disclose the British origin of food sold, but in their own interests they commonly do so.