§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what changes would be necessary in the marketing of food in the United Kingdom in the event of the United Kingdom entering the European Economic Community under present conditions governing the sale of food therein;
(2) if he will estimate the cost to wholesalers and retailers of food of conforming with regulations governing the sale of food in the European Economic Community if the United Kingdom were to enter the European Economic Community under present conditions.
§ Mr. PeartThe European Economic Community has adopted certain regulations and directives relating to quality
74Wtrade in cattle, sheep and pigs; to what extent this trade has fallen off in the last six months, compared with comparable earlier periods; and what are the reasons for the reduction in the trade.
§ Mr. HoyThe value of exports of cattle, sheep and pigs from the United Kingdom (including exports to the Irish Republic) in recent years was as follows:
standards for horticultural produce, sanitary aspects of the trade in meat, and to colouring matter and preservatives in food, which have a bearing on the sale of food in the Community. If the United Kingdom were to join the Community and become subject to these arrangements some changes would be required in present practice on these matters in this country. But not all the details are settled, some of the rules are not yet due to be implemented by the E.E.C. and it would be too lengthy to enumerate all the possible factors which may govern the sale of food in the E.E.C. It is not therefore possible to estimate the cost to wholesalers and retailers of conforming with the Community's food regulations.