HL Deb 30 March 2000 vol 611 cc95-6WA
Lord Harris of Haringey

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have considered the wide-ranging recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) in their report on Microbial Antibiotic Resistance in Relation to Food Safety which was published in August 1999. [HL1716]

Baroness Hayman

The Government have given careful consideration to all the recommendations of the ACMSF and have accepted those that call for government action. For the other recommendations, the regulations that are already in place or the activities that are underway have been outlined in the Government's response.

The response to the report highlights the importance that the Government attach to the issue of antimicrobial resistance. Additionally, it indicates the considerable amount of work that is already under way in this field to prevent, reduce or delay the development of antimicrobial resistance in food-producing animals. This includes a number of research and development projects in this area, funding for which will amount to £3.7 million over the next three years. The results from these projects will direct future policy decisions and thus further minimise the risk to public health.

Copies of the Government's response have been placed in the Library.