§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in establishing an EU food agency. [128508]
§ Ms StuartI have been asked to reply.
We have responded to the European Commission's White Paper on Food Safety which contains proposals to establish a European food authority. The submission of our response was announced via a Food Standards Agency press release of 1 June. The response has been placed in the Library of the House and is also available on the Food Standards Agency website at www.foodstandards.gov.uk/pdf—files/response.pdf.
The Commission is now considering all the comments it has received from member states and is awaiting the opinion of the European Parliament. The Commission has indicated its intention to come forward with firm proposals by late October.