HC Deb 28 April 1988 vol 132 cc257-8W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to the answer of 13 April,Official Report, column 155, he will list (a) the maximum permitted levels of radioactive caesium in foodstuffs for

Malaysia
CS-127 CS-134 Bq/kg (CS-137+CS-134)
(from 1 October 1986)
Milk and Milk Products and Mineral Water 120 60 180
Fruit and Vegetables— Fresh and Processed 216 108 324
Meat, Meat Products, Fish and other Sea Food—Fresh and Processed 360 180 540
Cereals Including Cornflour and Barley 168 84 252

Philippines
Bq/kg CS-137+CS-134
From 1 July 1986
Powdered whole or skimmed milk 22.2
Processed liquid milk 14.8
Cheese 33.3
Wheat, barley 5.6
Rice 7.5
Seafood 27.8
Meat except lamb 6.0
Lamb 450.0
Apples 7.5
From 1 October 1986
Milk products
Liquid milk 15.0
Milk powder (full cream/non fat) 22.0
Whey powder 22.0
Anhydrous milkfat/butterfat 22.0
Cream 22.0
Cheese/curd 33.0
Butter/raw butter 22.0
Food for infants/young children 22.0
Fruit products
Fruit purees/concentrates 8.0
Fruits in syrup/brine 8.0
Jams/jellies/marmalades 8.0
Other preserved fruits (raisins, dates, glazed fruits etc.) 8.0
Vegetable products
Purees/concentrates/flakes 22.0
Pickled/salted/dried/powdered 22.0
Vegetable starches 22.0
Protein hydrolysates 22.0
Meat products
Meat pastes/spreads/extract 6.0
Corned beef/luncheon meat 6.0
Ham/pork shoulders 6.0
Malaysia and the Philippines operated after April 1986, (b) how many consignments of milk powder were rejected (i) from the European Community and (ii) from the United Kingdom, (c) the volume or weight of these rejected consignments and (d) what happened to each rejected consignment.

Mr. Donald Thompson

[holding answer 21 April 1988]: I understand that the maximum permitted radiocaesium levels in feedstuffs operated by Malaysia and the Philippines after April 1986 are as follows:

Bq/kg CS-137+CS-134
Sausages 6.0
Cereal products
Oatmeal 6.0
Corn flakes/meal 6.0
Malt extract 6.0
Fish/marine products 28.0
Miscellaneous
Cocoa powder/chocolate drink 22.0
Tonic food drink 22.0
Chocolate bars/chocolate candies 22.0
Roasted coffee (ground) 22.0
Dextrose/glucose/honey 2.0

I do not have the details requested of the consignments of milk powder rejected by these countries except in the case of three consignments from the United Kingdom. The information I have on these is as follows:

Ultimate destination Weight (tonnes)
Netherlands for use in animal feed 390.0/6.5
Republic of Ireland (from which this consignment originated) 15.0

I repeat the statement I made in replying to the previous question on this subject on 13 April at column 155. I am fully satisfied that these feedstuffs posed no risk to public health.