§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library copies of the(a) guidance offered to the infant and dietetic food industry about levels of aluminium in infant and dietetic foods, and (b) regulations which exist with regard to infant and dietetic foods; and who is responsible for the enforcement of such guidance and regulations.
§ Mr. RyderThe recently completed survey on aluminium levels in infant formulae is to be discussed with the trade shortly. The results will be published as soon as possible.
There are currently no specific regulations on infant and diatetic foods. However, these foodstuffs, like all others, are covered by the general provisions of the Food Act 1984 and the food labelling regulations which include specific provisions controlling claims for infant and diatetic foods. The proposed EC directive on foods for particular nutritional uses would provide for specific directives which may control the description, composition, labelling, advertising and presentation of cerain categories of foods, including infant and diatetic foods. Enforcement of food law is carried out by those local authorities which are food and drugs authorities.