§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements she has for obtaining independent expert advice on the safety of animal feedingstuffs.
§ Mr. SoamesMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and I have been giving further thought to the present arrangements following the recommendation last year from the expert group on animal feedingstuffs for a standing advisory committee to have an overview of feedingstuffs safety issues.
Existing committees—the spongiform encephalopathy advisory committee, the advisory committee on the microbiological safety of food, and the veterinary products committee—are clearly well equipped to advise on major aspects of the subject. Beyond this, however, there is a need, identified by the expert group, to consider new developments concerning feed materials, manufacturing processes and feeding practices insofar as these might pose risks for human and animal health.
We have concluded that the best way of ensuring that new developments in these fields are properly assessed will be for the responsible Departments to hold regular reviews to identify any matters that may require an independent appraisal and then to obtain whatever specialist advice is needed to evaluate the specific isue. Flexible arrangements on these lines will bring the most relevant expertise to bear in the least burdensome way.