§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which agency will have responsibility for enforcing the EU's proposed rules on the compulsory marking of hen eggs; what resources the Government plans to make available for the enforcement duties; and if she will make a statement. [103760]
§ Margaret BeckettIn England and Wales, responsibility for enforcing rules on the compulsory marking of hens eggs will fall principally to this Department's Egg Marketing Inspectorate although local authority trading standards officers will be responsible for enforcement at retail level.
This work will form part of the normal enforcement of egg marketing legislation, and as such, no additional resources have been allocated to it.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 25 February 2003,Official Report, column 455W, on egg marking, what assessment she has made of he impact of the new rules for marking on the eggs sold at Women's Institute markets. [103741]
960W
§ Margaret BeckettThe principal purpose of the new rules on egg marking is to improve consumer information and to provide greater traceability, for example in the event of a possible food borne disease outbreak. This need applies irrespective of the outlet. Where eggs are from a clearly identifiable producer and are sold direct to the final consumer in a WI market, they do not necessarily have to be marked. Otherwise, the normal egg marketing rules will apply.