HC Deb 20 January 1986 vol 90 c2W
Dr. Cunningham

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present safety limit for concentrations of mercury in the flesh of fish caught for human consumption; and when that limit was last revised.

Mrs. Fenner

There are no statutory levels for the presence of mercury in food in the United Kingdom. The World Health Organisation in 1972 recommended that the tolerable level of intake for methyl mercury from all sources is 0.2 milligrams per week. As part of its programme of control of pollution of the aquatic environment the EC laid down in 1982 a specific limit of 0.3 milligram per kilogram of mercury in fish flesh.

Dr. Cunningham

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average concentration of mercury present in fish caught in the sea areas regulated by the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Joint Committee, at the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Gummer

0.27 milligrams per kilogram.