§ Lord Beaumont of Whitleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have consulted the Food Standards Agency concerning any possible implications for food safety of a millennium round of trade negotiations; and, if so, what advice they have received. [HL114]
§ Baroness HaymanThe scope of the forthcoming round of trade negotiations in the World Trade Organisation has not yet been decided and it is not clear whether the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (which sets out rules for trade measures to protect food safety, animal and plant health) will be included.
The Food Standards Agency will be formally established in spring 2000. It will be fully consulted on any changes which may be proposed to the WTO SPS agreement or other WTO agreements which may have a bearing on its responsibilities.