§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the changes proposed in regulations concerning cheese production; if these are required by European Union regulations; if they will be broadly applicable throughout the European Union; and what representations he has received regarding the regulations. [41461]
§ Mrs. BrowningAs part of our deregulation plan, proposed changes to the Cheese Regulations 1970 were published earlier this year. These regulations are not based on EC legislation. Under single market rules, national compositional and labelling legislation cannot be applied to products imported from another member state in which they are lawfully produced and marketed.
We have taken careful note of the comments made during the consultation period and, as a result, have decided to amend the proposed changes to these 876W regulations. We will not now be revolving the compositional standards for 12 named British cheeses. Nor will we be introducing a new requirement for cheese, and cream, to bear a separate declaration of their fat content. It is intended that the new regulations will come into force on 1 January 1996.