§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether compound ingredients of food which do not have to be listed under clause 16 of the Food Labelling Regulations 1984 have to be listed and labelled if they have been irradiated; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether food which has been irradiated and is a compound ingredient needs to be labelled as irradiated as outlined in clause 16(3) and (4) of the Food Labelling Regulations 1984.
§ Mr. GummerRegulations introduced on 1 January this year, which take into account EC labelling rules, require the labelling of irradiated food and listed food ingredients for pre-packed sales. Additional requirements are included for non-pre-packed sales and food sold by caterers.
Exemptions in regulation 16 of the Food Labelling Regulations 1984, as amended, which apply EC rules, provide that if a particular ingredient does not need to appear on the label, the fact that it may have been irradiated need not appear either. This exemption has obtained in other member states where irradiated food has for some time been permitted. We are currently seeking to persuade other member states that this exemption under the EC directive should be withdrawn for irradiated ingredients.