§ Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provision he is making to ensure that consumers who, for health or other reasons, wish to know the country of origin of imported food, can obtain this information when new regulations on this matter come into force next month; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in view 85W of the fact that existing legislation requiring the marking of foods, including eggs, butter, fresh apples, tomatoes, cucumbers and some types of meat, will lapse under the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, on 30th November; that this will result in deception of housewives and others, whether he will now state what action he proposes to ensure for instance that consumers know the place of origin of foodstuffs.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartAs announced by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Industry today, we have decided to initiate formal consultations as required by the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, with a view to making origin marking orders as soon as practicable for imported goods—apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, meat, poultry, bacon and ham, eggs in shell, honey and butter.