HC Deb 07 April 2000 vol 347 c641W
Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that gelatine(a) as part of a food product and (b) as a separate ingredient imported into the United Kingdom is (i) produced by manufacturers certified according to ISO 9000 international standard, and (ii) has not been contaminated with brain, spinal cord and ocular tissues of cattle (A) born, (B) reared and (C) finished in countries where incidents of BSE have been reported; [117009]

(2)what guidance he gives to consumers seeking to obtain gelatine, (a) as part of a food product and (b) as a separate ingredient, that is free of BSE infectivity; [117026]

(3)what steps he is taking to ensure that gelatine (a) as part of a food product and (b) as a separate ingredient imported into the United Kingdom (i) has not been produced using hides from cattle that have shown signs of neurological diseases and (ii) is produced using bones and hides from countries (1) with no incidence of BSE and (2) which meet the OIE standards; [117010]

(4)what steps he is taking to ensure that gelatine (a) as part of a food product and (b) as a separate ingredient, imported into the United Kingdom is (i) free of BSE and (ii) accurately labelled with the country of origin and production.[117003]