§ Mr. Heddleasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the latest results of testing undertaken by his Department on foodstuffs other than sheepmeat following the accident at Chernobyl.
§ Mr. JoplingIn addition to monitoring sheep and lambs from Cumbria, my Department has continued to test other foodstuffs which could have been affected by the Chernobyl accident. I am arranging for a copy of the data available since such information was last published on 20 June to be placed in the Library of the House.
The data shows that radio-iodine is no longer of radiological significance and amounts of radiocaesium, which takes rather longer to decay, are continuing to fall steadily in all food products including sheep. The special 658W measures I have taken in Cumbria will ensure that all sheep being marketed are within internationally acceptable levels.
I can, therefore, report on the basis of current and previous monitoring results that the position on foodstuffs produced in this country for home consumption and export is entirely satisfactory.