Foie Gras (Hansard, 9 November 1992)

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will show the volume of imports of foie gras into the United Kingdom and their countries of origin for each year since 1985.

§ Mr. Gummer
The information requested is shown in the table. For years from 1988 onwards, figures are for fresh or chilled fatty livers of geese and ducks only. For years 1985 to 1987, the available figures refer to fatty liver of geese and ducks whether fresh, chilled, frozen, salted or in brine.
been received from individuals and organisations. All these representations have been broadly in favour of maintaining the status quo.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about the expected scope of the forthcoming European directive on dietary supplements; and what information he has about the possible inclusion of salt and sugar.

§ Mr. Soames
On the basis of the discussion paper produced by the European Commission last December, I anticipate that the draft proposals will cover supplements in a concentrated form—that is, vitamin and mineral pills and, possibly, herbal extracts. There is no indication that salt or sugar would be within the scope of a directive on dietary supplements.

§ Mr. Hain
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the retail value of those vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements which are consumed annually in the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Soames
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 8 July in theOfficial Report, column 234.
609W

§ Mr. Hain
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the number of individuals who use vitamin, mineral or other dietary supplements on a regular basis.

§ Mr. Soames
Data from the dietary and nutritional survey of British adults, 1986–1987, indicated that 13 per cent. of consumers took some kind of dietary supplement. However, I am aware that sales have been increasing and a recent report in the market research magazine "Market Intelligence", September 1992, gave a figure of 30 per cent. for households which had purchased vitamins or dietary supplements in 1992.

§ Mr. Hain
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to seek derogation for the United Kingdom from the forthcoming European directive on dietary supplements.

§ Mr. Soames
We have made our views on future legislation known to the European Commission in the form of an outline draft directive on dietary supplements. In negotiations, we will press for a Community regime that strikes the right balance between ensuring public health and maintaining the availability of safe products for which there is clearly a strong public demand.

§ Mr. Hain
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will meet the Society for the Promotion of Nutritional Therapy to discuss the forthcoming draft directive on dietary supplements.

§ Mr. Soames
Arrangements for this are already in hand. Moreover, my officials have already met with most of the interested parties, including this body.

§ Mr. Hain
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Food Safety Act 1990 and other legislation in preventing the marketing of dangerous food products, or the making of unsubstantiated claims about health benefits which may accrue through the consumption of particular food products.

§ Mr. Soames
Procedures are in place which aim to ensure that the Food Safety Act 1990 is enforced effectively and sensibly. The Government believe the Act is largely effective both in deterring the marketing of food products which might be unsafe and in allowing action to be taken against the marketing of products which are, or may be, in breach of its provisions. However, this is kept under review and, in particular, the Government are concerned that a small number of food supplements may pose a potential risk to health and also that consumers may be misled by unsubstantiated claims in relation to certain products. The Government have recently accepted recommendations from the independent Food Advisory Committee for the tightening of controls on claims which may be made for foods. These include the recommendations that a food must be able to fulfil the claim being made for it; adequate labelling information must be given to show consumers that the claim is justified and that manufacturers should be required to be able to produce for enforcement purposes information substantiating any claims, and that such information as is appropriate should also be available to interested parties, including consumers. A copy of the full recommendations is being placed in the Library of the House. The recommendations on claims are being taken forward within the European Community.