HC Deb 11 December 1969 vol 793 cc169-70W
82. Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which organisations for which he is responsible are now carrying out research and trials on food additives, including alternatives to saccharines and cyclamates, with a view to determining their effect on man and his environment; and what is the cost of this work for the current year.

Mr. Hoy

The expert Committees that advise my right hon. Friend on the safety in use of food additives, including saccharin and cyclamates, take full account of the research data available in this country and abroad. But the responsibility for arranging for research to be carried out rests with industry. Guidance to industry is given in the Memorandum on Procedure for Submissions on Food Additives and on Methods of Toxicity Testing published by H.M.S.O. in 1965. Some toxicological testing is done at the British Industrial Biological Research Association, which is financed by industry and grant-aided by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology.