§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the European Economic Community Commission on behalf of the British brewing trade to allow British beers free access to the German market; whether any restrictions are imposed against the export of British beers in any other European Economic Community country; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Fenner[pursuant to her reply, 19 May 1986, c. 70]: The Government fully supported the EEC Commission in bringing the case currently before the European Court of Justice which challenges the legality under Community rules of the German beer purity, laws. Similar Greek laws are also the subject of proceedings before the court.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ascertain the specific reasons why British beers are not allowed to be exported to Germany and, in particular, whether there are substances, including formaldehyde in the beers which are causes for objection.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions have been placed by Germany on the import of British beer; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Fenner[pursuant to her reply, 19 May 1986, c. 71, and 20 May 1986]: The German beer purity laws provide that beer must be made exclusively from malted barley, hops, yeast and water. The use of other cereals and permitted additives in most British beers has meant their exclusion from the German market. While formaldehyde may be included at very low concentrations as a preservative in anti-foaming agents, I understand that the agents in use in this country do not, in fact, include formaldehyde, nor is it used as an additive for any other purpose in the production of British beers.