HC Deb 02 April 1996 vol 275 cc196-7W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to provide full information to all consumers about beef products contained in foodstuffs; and if he will ban the sales of foodstuffs which do not carry such a description clearly presented. [23229]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 29 March 1996]: The EC food labelling directive requires that the species origin of meat ingredients of all prepacked foodstuffs should be indicated on labels unless the ingredients form part of a composite ingredient which is less than 25 per cent. of the foodstuff. However, the UK also currently permits the use of generic terms for meat and offal ingredients provided that:

  1. (a) in the case of "meat" the labelling of the food does not otherwise refer to a specific type of meat;
  2. (b) in the case of "other meat", this describes meat not otherwise referred to on the label;
  3. (c) in the case of "offal", this refers only to an ingredient of a cooked food.

Following harmonisation of EC member states' legislation on use of generic terms in ingredient lists, the Government published proposals in March 1994 to amend the UK regulations to discontinue the use of these generic descriptions. The changes will be given effect in the consolidated food labelling regulations due to be introduced shortly.

The Government have no plans to ban products which do not comply with these rules.