HC Deb 08 July 1966 vol 731 c109W
Mr. Whitaker

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the health hazards arising from intensive animal husbandry, he will seek to make it obligatory to declare all non-nutritional additives in food.

Mr. John Mackie

Safeguards against risks arising from the use of veterinary products in livestock husbandry, whether intensive or not, are provided by the Therapeutic Substances Act, 1956, and regulations made thereunder, and by the voluntary Veterinary Products Safety Precautions Scheme. The Labelling of Food Order, 1953, as amended, requires the presence of additives in food to be declared in a list of ingredients for all foods which are not specifically exempted from the need to declare ingredients. Proposals for revised regulations on food labelling under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, which are under discussion with interested parties would have the effect of reducing the number of foods exempt from such declarations.