HC Deb 24 January 1992 vol 202 cc380-1W
Mr. Hunter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from which organisations or individuals he has received representations on the health claims made by the Food Advisory Committee in its report on its review of food labelling and advertising 1990.

Mr. Maclean

Representations were received from:

  • Advertising Authority
  • Advertising Standards Authority
  • ASDA
  • Association of Metropolitan Authorities
  • Association of Public Analysts
  • Mr. R. Banks
  • Biscuit, Cake and Confectionery Alliance
  • Boots
  • British Meat Manufacturers Association
  • British Nutrition Foundation
  • British Retailers Association
  • British Soft Drinks Association
  • Consumers Association
  • Consumers in the European Community Group (UK)
  • Co-operative Union Ltd
  • Coronary Prevention Group
  • East Lothian District Council
  • Federation of Bakers
  • Food and Drink Federation
  • Food Law Group
  • Mr. L. G. Hanson
  • Health Education Authority
  • Incorporated Society of British Advertisers
  • Institute of Food Science and Technology
  • Kelloggs
  • Leatherhead Food R. A.
  • Local Authority Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards
  • MAFF Consumer Panel
  • Meat and Livestock Commission
  • Milk Marketing Board
  • National Consumer Council
  • National Farmers Union
  • National Housewives Association Ltd
  • Nestlé
  • Procter and Gamble
  • Proprietory Association of Great Britain
  • 381
  • Quaker Oats
  • Retail Consortium
  • Robert Gordon Institute of Technology
  • Roche
  • Sainsburys
  • Royal College of Physicians
  • Scottish Association of Master Bakers
  • United Kingdom Association of Frozen Food Manufacturers
  • United Kingdom Federation of Business and Professional Women
  • United Kingdom Home Economics Federation

A full list of respondents to the consultation exercise has been placed in the Library of the House; copies of responses can be inspected, by appointment, at the Ministry's library at 3 Whitehall place.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the EC directive on health claims for foodstuffs to be published.

Mr. Maclean

I understand that the European Commission's intended proposals on health and other food claims are unlikely to be issued until later this year.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will announce his conclusions on the Food Advisory Committee's report on its review of food labelling and advertising 1990.

Mr. Maclean

The Food Advisory Committee has recently considered the response to the public consultation on the recommendations made in its report. I expect to receive shortly any further advice from the committee and shall consider this, together with the comments made by those responding to the committee's original recommendations, before making any final decisions and taking any further action. I shall make my announcement as soon as possible thereafter.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy regarding health claims and food labelling prior to the EC's amendment of 79/112/EC (Food Labelling).

Mr. Maclean

The Government's policy on food labelling, including health claims, is that food labels should enable consumers to make fully informed choices and should not mislead or confuse. I intend to announce the Government's response to the Food Advisory Committee's recommendations for further controls in this area as soon as I have received and considered the committee's final advice on its review of food labelling. I expect this to be in time to influence the European Commission's intended proposals on claims.

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