§ 20. Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what scientific evidence is available to him on the safety or otherwise of food irradiation; and what weight he accords to such evidence.
§ 27. Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what scientific evidence he has on the safety or otherwise of food irradiation; and what weight he gives to such evidence.
§ Mr. MacleanThe safety of food irradiation has been confirmed in the report of the independent Advisory Committee on Irradiated and Novel Foods entitled "The Safety and Wholesomeness of Irradiated Foods".
This includes reports from other independent scientific committees dealing specifically with toxicology, nutrition, microbiology and radiology.
Many other national and international scientific committees, including the EC Scientific Committee for Food, have also concluded that food irradiation can safely be permitted.
The Government has accepted the conclusion on the many scientific evaluations that have been made world wide.
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§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the legislative measures he will have to introduce prior to the introduction of food irradiation into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerOn 6 August the Ministry and the Department of Health jointly published for public consultation the draft Food (Control of Irradiation) Regulations 1990. These regulations, which draw on new powers in the Food Safety Act 1990, would lift the current general prohibition on the sale of irradiated foods in Great Britain and introduce a plant-specific, product-specific licensing system for food irradiation facilities. The regulations are intended to come into force on 1 January 1991.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to introduce the legislative measures to permit food irradiation in the United Kingdom prior to a decision being taken on its use in the European Community; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerGovernment proposals for regulations that would lift the current general prohibition on the sale of irradiated foods and introduce a licensing system for food treatment facilities were published on 6 August. Irradiated foods have been accepted as safe by the World Health Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and many national and international scientific committees including our own Advisory Committee on Irradiated and Novel Foods. There is no justification for continuing to deny consumers and industry the option of benefiting from this process, which can enhance food safety and extend choice. But no one will be forced to buy irradiated food if they do not want to.