§ Mr. Steelasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on his Department's policy with regard to irradiation as a method of food preservation;
(2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that all food treated by irradiation will be clearly labelled.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and I are considering the current legislation which prohibits the general irradiation of food in this country in the light of the Report of the Advisory Committee on Irradiated and Novel Foods. An announcement about whether we intend to issue proposals to amend the existing legislation will be made after we have fully considered the Report and the representations received on it. Consideration will include the advice in the Report of the Food Advisory Committee on the labelling of irradiated food, that if the irradiation of food is permitted such foods should be required to be clearly labelled.