§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Lanark blue cheese, setting out the United Kingdom and EC legal instruments governing its production and what assessment he has made of the application of the relevant legislation in France as respects French cheeses.
§ Sir Hector MonroThe hygienic production of cheese is regulated at present by the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 1959 as amended and by the provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990. All existing milk and dairies legislation is being consolidated into a new set of regulations which will also implement the EC milk hygiene directive 92/46/EEC.
Although as Minister I have no involvement with proceedings which have been instituted, I understand that on 6 March 1995 a justice of the peace approved an application by the food authority for the destruction of some Lanark blue cheese, that an interim interdict to halt that destruction has subsequently been granted to the manufacturer and that the matter is now before the courts.
My right hon. Friend has no information on which he can base an assessment of the application of legislation in France as respects French cheeses.