§ Mr. OakesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further discussions he has had, or proposes to have, with(a) consumer organisations, (b) retailers, (c) trade unions, (d) manufacturers and (e) others on the question of the irradiation of foodstuffs.
848W
§ Mr. MacleanIn accordance with long-established practice in the food sector, there will be full consultation of all the relevant interests when the regulations have been prepared.
§ Mr. OakesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he proposes to make available to customers of restaurants, cafes and public houses as to whether the food they have purchased there has been irradiated.
§ Mr. MacleanI have already announced my intention to ensure that customers of restaurants, cafes and public houses are given clear information to enable them to choose whether or not they wish to buy irradiated food. Recently agreed European Community food legislation already provides for clear labelling of irradiated food and listed ingredients for prepacked sales. Additional requirements are needed for non-prepacked retail sales and food sold by caterers and I am currently consulting interested parties on the most effective and practical way of presenting this information to consumers.
§ Mr. OakesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the Institution of Environmental Health Officers and other organisations with regard to the irradiation of food.
§ Mr. MacleanI have received a number of letters from interested organisations on aspects of food irradiation. The views of the Institution of Environmental Health Officers are set out in its evidence to the recent inquiry by the House of Lords European Communities Committee, the report of which is in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. OakesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what research is being conducted by his Department on the irradiation of food;
(2) what tests his Department recommends to discover whether food has been irradiated.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Department is currently carrying out research aimed at identifying and developing suitable tests for detecting irradiated foods. We are also investigating the effects of irradiation on plastic food packaging materials.