§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies have been done by or on behalf of his Department, and what regulations exist, to set standards for the handling, and transport, of frozen foods.
§ Mr. RyderThe Ministry has funded many studies on all aspects of frozen foods. In particular, one large study
264Wcarried out to determine if they were free from disease; whether any tests were carried out for tuberculosis and whether any strains of tuberculosis are specific to deer.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe table provides the number and species of deer imported into the United Kingdom and the countries of origin in the last five years. The purpose of these imports is not available.
examined the temperatures and quality of frozen food encountered in different commercial cold stores and retail outlets. A further project is in progress examining temperature distribution in retail display cabinets.
The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970 and the Food Hygiene (Market Stalls and Delivery Vehicles) Regulations 1966 lay down the handling and transport hygiene requirements for most foods, including frozen food. These regulations are currently being reviewed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. International trade in frozen food is subject to the provisions of the agreement on the international carriage of perishable foodstuffs. In addition, regulations are being made to implement the EC directive on quick frozen foods, adopted on 21 December 1988 which lays down provisions controlling aspects of labelling, manufacturing, processing and storage of quick frozen food. Apart from their specific regulations the general provisions of the Food Act 1984 apply, which, inter alia, prohibit the sale of food which is not of the nature, substance or quality demanded by the purchaser.