§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the food and drink industries concerning the date of implementation of the Labelling of Food Regulations 1980.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI have now received a reply from Commissioner Narjes to my letter of 19 April in which I asked how the Commission intended to deal with the problem of ensuring that all member States comply with the Community's food labelling directive by a common date. Mr. Narjes has assured me that all the legislative instruments by which member States implement the directive are being examined in detail, and that the Commission will use all the powers given to it by the treaty to ensure that the directive is correctly applied in all 10 member States. Correct application does of course include
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Real weekly net income at November 1979 prices Single Married Married with one child under 11 years Married with two children under 11 years Married with two children two children one under 11 one 11–16 years Married with four children two under 11 one 11–16 years (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) £ £ £ £ £ £ 1976–77 ½ Average Earnings 36.70 40.20 43.10 46.90 47.30 53.50 ¾ Average Earnings 51.50 54.90 57.90 61.70 62.10 70.10 Average Earnings 66.30 69.70 72.60 76.50 76.80 84.90 1 ½ Average Earnings 96.50 99.90 102.80 106.70 107.00 115.10 2 × Average Earnings 125.70 130.10 133.90 138.20 138.60 147.20 1977–78 ½ Average Earnings 36.50 40.80 43.70 47.00 47.30 51.80 ¾ Average Earnings 50.90 55.10 58.00 61.40 61.70 68.60 Average Earnings 65.20 69.50 72.40 75.70 76.00 82.90 1 ½ Average Earnings 94.30 98.60 101.50 104.80 105.10 112.10 2 × Average Earnings 124.50 129.60 132.80 136.20 136.50 143.50 1978–79 ½ Average Earnings 39.40 43.40 47.00 50.60 50.80 58.20 ¾ Average Earnings 54.70 58.80 62.60 66.40 66.70 74.50 Average Earnings 70.10 74.20 78.00 81.70 82.00 89.80 1 ½ Average Earnings 101.40 105.50 109.30 113.10 113.40 121.20 2 × Average Earnings 135.40 139.50 143.30 147.00 147.30 155.10 1979–80 ½ Average Earnings 40.30 44.10 48.10 52.20 52.20 60.40 ¾ Average Earnings 56.60 60.40 64.50 68.60 68.60 76.70 Average Earnings 72.90 76.70 80.80 84.90 84.90 93.00 1 ½ Average Earnings 106.70 110.50 114.60 118.70 118.70 126.80 2× Average Earnings 14.70 146.60 150.60 154.70 154.70 162.80 1980–81 ½ Average Earnings 39.50 43.40 47.10 50.90 50.90 58.30 application by the date laid down in the directive. In view of this assurance, I have decided that it would be right for the United Kingdom to comply with the directive from the beginning of 1983 and the implementing date of the food labelling regulations will therefore remain unchanged.
I am aware that some traders may face difficulties at first, but I am confident that enforcement authorities will act reasonably, while compliance by our food manufacturers will help to ensure their access to export markets throughout the Community.