HC Deb 09 July 1991 vol 194 cc339-40W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 2 July,Official Report, column 132, to what guideline figure on the levels of dioxins in milk and other foodstuffs, in nanogrammes per kg, his Ministry was working prior to setting the level at 0.2 nanogrammes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

In 1989, in the absence of any international evaluation, the Committee of Toxicity established a guideline level of 0.002 nanogrammes per kg bodyweight per day to assess intakes of dioxins from milk and other foodstuffs. This guideline was not a safety limit and has been superseded by the tolerable daily intake or 0.01 nanogrammes per kg bodyweight per day recommend by the World Health Organisation in 1990 from which the action level of 0–07 nanogrammes per kg of milk was calculated.

Mr. Skinner

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will supply the information as to the 27 locations in the Bolsover and North Derbyshire area where monitoring took place in respect of dioxin levels in milk.

Mr. Maclean

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 1 July at column73.

Mr. Skinner

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will meet representatives of farmers affected by dioxin levels in milk to discuss arrangements for payment to the farmers affected.

Mr. Maclean

On the question of compensation, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 2 July at column133.