Pre-packed Food

HC Deb 18 December 1975 vol 902 c784W

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what efforts have been made to persuade the EEC to accept the United Kingdom principle of minimum weight, instead of average weight for pre-packed food.

Mr. Alan Williams

During the years between 1972 and 1974 every effort was made to convince the other EEC countries of the advantages of adopting the minimum weight system. The Government finally accepted that they had no option but to agree the adoption of the average weight system following a decision by the United Nations Codex Alimentarius Committee on Food Labelling to recommend the use of this system on a world-wide basis. During negotiations on the main EEC directives concerning prepacked foodstuffs the United Kingdom secured a derogation until 31st December 1979. A working party has been set up to make recommendations on the method of implementation of these directives in the United Kingdom.