§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department approved the establishment of additional scientific committees as announced in European Union document ip/97/679; how those committees will co-ordinate their work with committees responsible to his Department; and if he will make a statement. [12744]
§ Mr. RookerThe European Commission has recently transferred all of its advisory scientific committees to Directorate General XXIV which deals with consumer policy and consumer health protection. It is now in the process of restructuring the committees, the six existing committees being replaced by eight new committees which will deal respectively with food; animal nutrition; animal health and animal welfare; veterinary public health; plants; cosmetic products and non-food products intended for consumers; toxicity, ecotoxicity and the environment; and medical products and medical devices. A restructured overarching committee, the Scientific Steering Committee, is also being set up, the membership consisting of the chairmen of the eight scientific committees and eight additional scientists.
The reorganisation of the committee structure is entirely a matter for the European Commission, but in so far as the intention is to provide a more effective advisory system we are in support, though it remains to be seen how the new arrangements will operate in practice. Advice on food safety issues in the UK continues to be provided by the UK advisory committees, although increasingly legislation on food safety is based on agreements reached in Brussels.
Officials have been in touch with officials in DG XXIV and will continue working to ensure that there is effective interchange of information between the EU and ourselves. We also keep in close touch with day to day developments in the EU scientific committees via the UK contact points, and EU committees will be well aware of the conclusions reached in UK discussions.