§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many instances there have been in each year since 1980 of irradiated foodstuffs imported into the United kingdom being returned;
(2) how many instances there have been in each year since 1980 of irradiated foodstuffs being imported into the United Kingdom for domestic consumption;
(3) if his Department has developed any method of testing imported foodstuffs in order to determine whether they have been subjected to irradiation for the purpose of preservation;
(4) how many prosecutions there have been in each year since 1980 for the importation of irradiated foodstuffs into the United Kingdom.
§ Mrs. CurrieI have been asked to reply.
Under the Food (Control of Irradiation) Regulations 1967, it is illegal to import irradiated food. Port health authorities are watchful for any indication of irradiation as evidenced by accompanying documentation or markings on the packaging. Only one well publicised, illegal, importation is on record. In the current financial year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is providing 150,000 for research towards the development of detection tests.