HC Deb 03 July 2003 vol 408 cc481-2W
Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons lettuce and spinach are excluded from the Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations 2003/1478. [122841]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Lettuce and spinach are excluded from the English Regulations because of a derogation allowed by European Community law. This derogation allows United Kingdom farmers a transitional period during which to alter their farming practices to reduce the levels of nitrate in spinach and lettuce. The transitional period, which also applies in Ireland, Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands, is necessary due to the different climatic conditions that occur in Northern Europe. Cloudy weather during the growing period leads to lettuce and spinach having high nitrate concentrations and on occasion exceeding the maximum permitted levels set by legislation.

The derogation is conditional on growers abiding by a code of practice and on levels of nitrate measured not representing a risk to public health. Codes of practice for farming of spinach and lettuce were published in 1999. These outline farming practices that, if followed, should reduce the concentrations of nitrate observed in lettuce and spinach. The Food Standards Agency undertakes statutory monitoring of nitrate levels in lettuce and spinach and submits the data to the EC on a yearly basis.