§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU Standing Committee on feedingstuffs is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [70572]
§ Ms BlearsI have been asked to reply.
I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that, as from 21 February this year, the Standing Committee for Animal Nutrition, which was responsible 473W forfeedingstuffs, was replaced by the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health in accordance with EC Regulation 178/2002. The United Kingdom is normally represented on the Committee by officials from the Food Standards Agency and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Scottish Executive is kept fully informed and consulted about issues before the Committee, and there is no bar to representatives of the Scottish Executive attending as part of the UK delegation, should the subject matter required this. The Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee is next due to meet on 13 and 14 November 2002.