§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had in the Council of Ministers concerning the draft directive on the irradiation of foodstuffs; and what is his position on the proposal to make the directive applicable to a narrow range of foodstuffs.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Internal Market Council has discussed this draft on two occasions. These meetings have confirmed that a majority of member states wish discussions to continue with a view to an agreed directive being introduced.
In publishing draft regulations on 6 August the Government have proposed limitation of the use of food irradiation to those products for which the process has been confirmed as acceptable from a public health standpoint by the EC scientific committee for food.