§ Lord Pestonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the safety of canthaxanthin for use in animal feed in so far as it affects eggs and farmed fish consumed by the public. [HL1191]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Donoughue)We are grateful for the Food Advisory Committee's advice that there are no consumer safety concerns associated with the use of this pigment in animal feed. My honourable friend the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has concluded that it may therefore continue to be used in accordance with its long-standing authorisation in Directive 70/524/EEC concerning additives in feedingstuffs.
We nevertheless propose to seek a reduction under the directive to the maximum permitted level (MPL) for use of the substance in feed for laying hens. The levels used are, for technological reasons, far below the current MPL.
My honourable friend the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also intends to ask the new Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs, when it is established, to consider whether, despite the lack of current safety concerns, it would be prudent to monitor the degree to which this colourant is used in the future.
Finally, my honourable friend the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food notes that the FAC wishes to review the need for labelling of animal products coloured in this way. He believes this is an important matter for consumer information and we look forward to receiving the FAC's advice in due course.