§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (1) what measures were taken and on what dates to publicise the request from the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food for information concerning the risks to human of antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms entering the food chain; and if he will make a statement: [16952]
(2) if he will list the (a) names and (b) employers of the members of (i) the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food and (ii) the working group set up by the committee to assess the risks to humans of antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms entering the food chain; and if he will make a statement; [16954]
(3) when the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food announced that it had set up a working group to assess the risks to humans of antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms entering the food chain; what were the date and method by which requests for information were first publicised; what was the last date on which responses could be sent to the secretariat; and if he will make a statement. [16953]
§ Mr. HoramI have been asked to reply.
The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food's working group on microbial antibiotic resistance in relation to food safety has sought objective scientific information by writing to industry, academia and a wide range of interested organisations including those in medicine. The fist mailing exercise was on 5 and 6 December 1996 and responses were requested by 17 January 1997. There have been two further mailings since, on 27 January and 14 February 1997, and over 2,000 letters have been sent. Specimen copies of the letters have been placed in the Library. Another similar exercise is planned for this week and the secretariat will be asked for responses by 10 April. The secretariat will accept responses from previous mailings up to this date.
The ACMSF announced that it was setting up the working group in its press release of 25 January 1996. Copies are in the Library. Information on the ACMSF and working group members and their employers is as follows:
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Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food Membership Chairman Professor D. L. Georgala Independent scientific consultant. Retired Director of the Institute of Food Research Members Mrs. F. Anderson Nurse tutor and consumer representative Mr. D. Boon London Borough of Croydon Mr. D. Clarke Granada Purchasing Ltd. Dr. R. J. Gilbert Central Public Health Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory Service Dr. A. M. Johnston Royal Veterinary College University of London Dr. M. J. Painter North West Infection Control and Surveillance Unit, Public Health Laboratory Service Professor S. R. Palmer Public Health Laboratory Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (Welsh Unit)
Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food Membership Dr. T. Roberts Retired Head of Microbiology, Institute of Food Research Ms B Saunders Consumer Consultant Dr. N. A. Simmons Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust; Honorary Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, the London Hospital Medical College Dr. W. C. S. Smith University of Aberdeen and Honorary Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Grampian Health Board Mr. R. Southgate Northern Foods plc Dr. G. Spriegel J. Sainsbury plc Dr. M. Stringer Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association Dr. T. Wilson Northern Ireland Public Health Laboratory, Belfast City Hospital
Working Group on Microbiological Antibiotic Resistance in Relation to Food Safety Membership Chairman Professor D. L. Georgala Independent scientific consultant. Retired Director of the Institute of Food Research Vice Chairman Dr. G. Spriegel J Sainsbury plc Members Mr. J. A. R. Dewhirst Farmer; member of the East Yorks National Farmers' Union Pigs Committee and Farm Animal Welfare Council; Vice Chairman of the British Pig Association; UK Chairman of the European Pig Producers' Organisation Professor A. T. Hart Department of Medical Microbiology and Genito-Urinary Medicine, Royal Liverpool Univeristy Hospital Dr. A. M. Johnston Royal Veterinary College, University of London Dr. L. Piddock Department of Infection, University of Birmingham Ms B Saunders Consumer consultant Dr. N. A. Simmons Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust; Honorary Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, the London Hospital College Dr. D. J. Taylor Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Glasgow Veterinary School Dr. P. Wall Consultant Epidemiologist, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre