HC Deb 01 December 1965 vol 721 cc203-4W
119. Mr. John Hall

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what research is now being undertaken on the long-term effects on human health of food additives permitted under existing legislation.

Mr. Hoy

Long-term toxicity is one of the matters considered by the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee before recommending that a new additive should be permitted and when conducting periodical reviews of the regulations. This system is described in the Memorandum on Procedure for Submissions on Food Additives and on Methods of Toxicity Testing published by my Department last June. It is for the commercial interests who wish to use an additive to provide the necessary evidence and to arrange for any new research work. The Government would then decide, in the light of the results, whether the product concerned can be allowed to be used in food. The British Industrial Biological Research Association, which is an autonomous organisation operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Technology and financed jointly by that Ministry and industry, is undertaking research on toxicology including work on a number of substances at present permitted to be used in food.