HC Deb 26 February 2002 vol 380 cc1199-200W
Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the derivation, by country, of UK cultivated new potatoes; and what measures are in place to ensure the accurate labelling of early new potatoes entering the retail chain. [35880]

Mr. Morley

Only those seed potatoes which have been produced in EU member states or in Switzerland are permitted to enter the UK and be planted here. These measures are laid down in the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1993 (as amended) and in the Plant Health Order (Northern Ireland) 1993 (as amended). However, information on the seed varieties imported is not available so it is not possible to distinguish between those destined for early and ware production.

As far as labelling is concerned, the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 require only the variety of potato to be mentioned on the label.