Mr. Michael John FosterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that the public are properly informed of the results of food chemical surveys for which his Department has a responsibility; and if he will make a statement. [10072]
§ Mr. RookerThe Government believe that the public should be properly informed about all food safety matters. I have therefore decided to make some important changes to improve the reporting of results from our regular food chemical surveys. I plan to increase the amount of information available about surveys and ensure wider publication of the results. For all relevant surveys, the full results for individual samples, including brand names, will he given. Furthermore, I will open up the food chemical surveillance programme to greater public scrutiny by publishing information on surveys to be undertaken.
I endorse fully the view that we must release the results fairly and provide the public with the best possible advice on their significance. These changes will benefit consumers by enabling them to make a more informed choice about the food that they buy. The only surveys which will be excluded from these arrangements are those for which brand names have no bearing on the interpretation of the results, such as dietary surveys involving individual people or exploratory surveys aimed at developing analytical methods.
In addition, I propose to review the current arrangements for reporting surveys on pesticides, veterinary residues and microbiological safety of food, which are administratively different from food chemical surveys. I will report on proposed changes to the House as soon as possible.