§ Mr. Huntasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he will take to enforce stricter control of wine labelling.
§ Mr. HoyThe Food and Drugs Act, 1955, and the Labelling of Food Order, 1953 (as amended), already confer on food and drugs authorities wide powers to enforce the correct labelling of wines. My right hon. Friend is considering, as part of his general review of food labelling regulations, whether any amendment of these provisions is required at present.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the practice of wine being sold as French wine of a particular type which is often not French and not of the type described on the label; and what steps he will take by legislation or otherwise to protect the public from this practice.
§ Mr. HoyWe are advised that it would be an offence under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, and the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887, to label wine as French if it did not originate in France. If my hon. Friend will let us have particulars of any cases where there is evidence of this sort of false labelling, we will consider whether action can be taken.