§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of his discussions with the European Commission on the draft food hygiene directive.
§ Mr. FreemanThe draft "Food Hygiene" directive has not yet been submitted by the Commission to the Council and there is currently no timetable for discussions. However, an early draft of a proposal for a Council directive on the protection of human health by monitoring the wholesomeness of foodstuffs and observing basic principles of hygiene during their production handling and sale (the "Food Hygiene" directive) has recently been circulated to interested parties for comments on its scope, principles and approach.