HC Deb 20 February 1989 vol 147 cc521-2W
Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response his Department has made to reports about the effects on babies of high levels of PCDFs.

Mr. Freeman

The Department is aware of studies i n Japan and Taiwan which tentatively suggested health effects in babies whose mothers were exposed to cooking oil containing polychlorinated biphenyls contaminated with PCDFs. The Department's advisory committee on the toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment is currently reviewing the toxicity data on PCDDs and PCDFs, including these studies, and the committee's advice is expected shortly.