Mr. Mark Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) on what grounds Her Majesty's Government have argued for amendments to European Community provisions governing the use of canthaxanthin in order that its use in fish foods may continue;
(2) on what grounds canthaxanthin is permitted for use in feedingstuffs for fish while its use as an additive to the food itself is not permitted;
(3) whether he will make available in the Library a copy of the submission made to the European Community in regard to the provisions governing the use of canthaxanthin in feedstuffs;
(4) what are the current European Community provisions governing the use of canthaxanthin in feedstuffs.
§ Mrs. FennerMember states are required by the directive 70/524 concerning additives in feedingstuffs to allow the use of canthaxanthin in poultry feed and cat and dog food. Member states may also allow the use of canthaxanthin in salmon and trout feed.
Canthaxanthin has been permitted for use in fish feed in United Kingdom legislation for a number of years and was, prior to this country joining the EEC. Canthaxanthin in food is permitted by The Colouring Matter in Food Regulations 1973. The Government therefore pressed the European Community to change its law in line with that already existing in this country.
I am not prepared to make available a copy of the submission made to the European Community since this contained information of a commercially confidential nature.