§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will amend the Feeding Stuffs Regulations 1982 to extend to wild birds the protection offered to captive birds in respect of aflatoxin levels in peanuts, and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanResponsibility for the general protection of wild birds rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. The enabling powers under which the feedingstuffs regulations are made do not cover the regulation of feed for wild birds.
However, during its regular contacts with the feed industry, my Department has drawn attention to the potential risks to wild birds of peanuts containing aflatoxin and the main manufacturers have undertaken to buy their supplies from sources which are unlikely to exceed the safety limits established for pets and farm animals.