HC Deb 20 March 1997 vol 292 c804W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he has put in place to control and monitor additives in tobacco products; and if he will make a statement. [21262]

Mr. Horam

A new 10 year voluntary agreement between the Tobacco Manufacturers Association, the Imported Tobacco Products Advisory Council and the Department of Health has been successfully negotiated and will come into force shortly. The new agreement covers the additives which may now be included in tobacco products and arrangements for the approval by the Department of Health of new additives in the future. Manufacturers have undertaken to sign a certificate that their products conform to the terms of the agreement one year from the date it comes into effect. Current arrangements for monitoring the constituents of tobacco products and their smoke by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist remain in place. Copies of the text of the agreement have been placed in the Library.