§ Lord Graham of Edmontonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of any evidence which might justify on health grounds the issue of the new EC draft directive on quick frozen foods.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Belstead)No. The EC Commission has been repeatedly asked by officials to demonstate that the proposed directive is necessary on health grounds, but has failed to produce any convincing justification.
§ Lord Graham of Edmontonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What effect they consider the new EC draft directive on quick frozen foods will have on small to medium sized businesses within the UK retail trade, in particular those which run older systems of refrigeration; and what effect they consider the draft directive will have on the capital expenditure of such businesses.
§ Lord BelsteadIt is impossible to predict the effects of the draft directive on small to medium sized retail businesses at this stage, when agreement has not been reached on products to be covered, temperature tolerances or transitional provisions. The provisions as at present drafted could mean that those with older refrigeration systems would need to consider re-equipping earlier than commercial considerations might otherwise dictate.
§ Lord Graham of Edmontonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What effect they consider the new EC draft directive on quick frozen foods will have on the choice available to consumers, particularly in rural areas.
§ Lord BelsteadIt is impossible to predict the effects on consumer choice of the draft directive at this stage, when agreement has not been reached on products to be covered, temperature tolerances or transitional provisions. If the proposals as presently drafted were implemented some retailers might consider that they could no longer sell frozen foodstuffs, thus restricting the choice available to consumers. I am doubtful, however, if that were the case, that the effects in rural areas would be markedly different from those in urban areas.