HC Deb 27 June 2000 vol 352 cc481-2W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy towards beta-sitosterol products. [126892]

Ms Stuart

As responsibility for food safety and standards matters have now passed to the Food Standards Agency which reports to Parliament through Health Ministers, I have been asked to reply.

I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that products containing beta-sitosterol require pre-market approval under the European Commission Novel Foods Regulation 258/97 if they did not have a significant history of consumption in Europe at the time the regulations came into force.