§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy towards implementing the proposed European Economic Community food and drink labelling regulations.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI have received representations from manufacturers and retailers about possible difficulties in the implementation by 1 January 1983 of the Food Labelling Regulations 1980, which implement the European Community Food Labelling Directive (79/112/EEC). I have written to the European Commission asking how it intends to deal with the problem of ensuring that all member States comply with the directive by a common date, and I shall decide what further action is needed in the light of the Commission's reply.