§ Mr. W. Hamiltonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are taken to ensure that all cans 12W of imported corned beef have been cooled in chlorinated water; and whether he will give an assurance that there are no supplies in stock or likely to be distributed which have not been so treated.
§ Mr. SoamesUnder the Imported Food Regulations, no meat or meat products may be imported unless they are accompanied by an official certificate, given by the Government of the exporting country, showing that all necessary precautions for the prevention of danger to public health were taken in the dressing, preparation and packing.
The essential thing is not that cooling water should be chlorinated but that it should be clean. For instance, if potable water were used for the cooling process, chlorination would clearly be unnecessary. Accordingly the Answer to the second part of the Question is, "No". My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland, and the Minister of Health, made statements on 2nd June and 11th June respectively about such supplies as they thought it advisable should be withdrawn for the time being.