§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his Department's policy to separate risk assessment and risk management in matters of food safety. [13184]
§ Mr. RookerThe process of risk analysis, which comprises risk assessment, risk management and the third component of risk communication, is, in the case of food safety, the joint responsibility of my Ministry and the Department of Health. In general we seek to ensure that risk assessment and risk management are considered separately, although they do also have a measure of interdependence, as has been made clear in recent expert FAO/WHO consultations on risk analysis and risk management. Officials in the joint MAFF/DH food safety and standards group are, however, studying current procedures in the light of recent developments in thinking to ensure that best practice is being followed.