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Food (Colourings)

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those artificial colours permitted for use in food within the United Kingdom; if he will indicate those which are banned in (a) the USA and (b) Norway; and if he will make a statement. [2630]

Mr. Rooker: The following artificial colours are permitted for use in food within the United Kingdom:

EC number	Name
E 102	Tartrazine
E 104	Quinoline Yellow
E 110	Sunset Yellow FCFOrange Yellow S
E 122	Azorubine, Carmoisine
E 123	Amaranth
E 124	Ponceau 4R, Cochineal Red A
E 127	Erythrosine
E 128	Red 2G
E 129	Allura Red AC
E 131	Patent Blue V
E 132	Indigotine, Indigo carmine
E 133	Brilliant Blue FCF
E 142	Green S
E 151	Brilliant Black BN, Black PN
E 153	Vegetable carbon
E 154	Brown FK
E 155	Brown HT
E 170	Calcium carbonate
E 171	Titanium dioxide
E 172	Iron oxides and hydroxides
E 173	Aluminium
E 174	Silver
E 175	Gold
E 180	Litholrubine BK

All of these have been approved under harmonised rules which apply throughout the EU, following safety clearance by the European Commission's Scientific Committee for Food. The information requested about bans which may exist in the USA and Norway is not readily available. I will write to my hon. Friend.

11 Jun 1997 : Column: 503

Animal Feed

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many and what percentage of feed compounders currently list full ingredients when labelling animal feeding contents; and if he will make a statement. [2694]

Mr. Rooker: A survey by UKASTA, the trade association representing compound feed manufacturers, has indicated that around 90 per cent. of the animal feed manufactured by its members is now subject to full ingredient listing. The Government is continuing to monitor the situation and will take action if necessary.

Beef

Mr. Prior: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what actions he plans to take to support (a) beef prices and (b) the beef production industry. [2530]

Mr. Rooker: The current problems of the UK beef market are not simply the result of BSE, but reflect the fact that there is significant structural imbalance between supply and demand on the EU market. In discussion with Commissioner Fischler and representatives of other Member States on the Agriculture Council, the Government has repeatedly stressed that reform of the beef regime is urgently necessary to address that imbalance. In the meantime, we are urging the Commission to make progress towards lifting the export ban and to introduce controls on beef production in other Member States equivalent to those applied here. In the absence of agreement on such controls, we will not hesitate to take unilateral action to ensure that any beef imported onto the UK market and competing with the domestic product meets the same high standards as apply in the UK.

Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement as to the difference in treatment by the regulatory authorities of (a) imported beef and (b) beef produced in the United Kingdom. [2246]

Mr. Rooker: All fresh meat produced in or imported into the United Kingdom must be produced in accordance with harmonised hygiene rules laid down in Council Directive 64/433/EEC (as amended). Also, meat derived from bovines which, at the time of slaughter, were more than 30 months old is prohibited under the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No 2) Regulations 1996 for sale for human consumption unless it comes from animals covered by the Beef Assurance Scheme, or born, reared and slaughtered in those third countries specifically excluded by the Regulations where there is no known risk of BSE.

In addition, since 1989 there has been a requirement for specified bovine material (SBM) to be removed from bovine animals which have died or been slaughtered in the United Kingdom. SBM is currently defined in the Specified Bovine Material Order 1997 as the whole head (excluding the tongue), spinal cord, spleen, thymus, tonsils and intestines of cattle over six months old and the thymus and intestines of calves under six months. The SBM may not be used in food, animal feed, cosmetic, pharmaceutical or medical products. It has to be stained and disposed of under strictly controlled conditions.

11 Jun 1997 : Column: 504

On 5 June, following advice from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced the opening of consultations on an amendment to the 1997 Order, Official Report, columns 227-28, which would extend these controls to imported beef, other than from those countries excluded by the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No 2) Regulations 1996. This is not an import ban. We intend to implement these measures in late July if agreement to introduce similar Community-wide controls is not forthcoming by then.

Newcastle Disease

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount of compensation to be paid by his Department as a result of the (a) Ross on Wye and (b) Sussex outbreaks of Newcastle disease in 1996-97; and if he will make a statement. [2692]

Mr. Rooker: The Department has paid £1,559,803 to date in respect of three outbreaks of Newcastle disease near Ross on Wye and £21,235 for two outbreaks in Sussex which occurred during 1996-97. A further sum of about £300,000 in compensation is expected to be paid in connection with one of the outbreaks near Ross on Wye.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the reasons behind the 1996-97 outbreaks of Newcastle disease in (a) Ross on Wye and (b) Sussex; and if he will make a statement. [2693]

Mr. Rooker: The State Veterinary Service has conducted an epidemiological investigation into the cause of three outbreaks of Newcastle disease in Ross on Wye and one in Sussex which occurred in January this year. It has not been possible to confirm either a definitive source for the infection or how the virus had spread between premises. However, it is believed that the virus may have originated from migrating birds and was subsequently spread between premises by the movement of people, vehicles or equipment.

An outbreak of Newcastle disease in a pheasant farm in Sussex in May 1996 was attributed to contact with wild pigeons or doves which were infected with the PMV1 virus.

Milk Quotas

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department insists on duly completed milk quota transfer forms being submitted before proceeding with dairy produce quota regulation apportionment. [2482]

Mr. Rooker: Yes. However, in cases where the parties are in dispute as to the apportionment of quota or where the Intervention Board has reasonable grounds for believing that a correct apportionment of quota may not have been made, the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations 1997 provide for the matter to be referred to arbitration. Once the arbitrator has arrived at his decision on the appropriate apportionment, the quota register held by the Intervention Board will be amended, if required, in accordance with the arbitrator's findings.

11 Jun 1997 : Column: 505

Food Safety

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that imported foodstuffs meet the same safety criteria as required of home grown foodstuffs. [2483]

Mr. Rooker: Where harmonised Community rules exist, imports must comply with the EU legislation designed to protect public and animal health. Where there are no harmonised rules, imports must comply with national importation rules. Control checks are carried out at the port of importation for products from third countries and at retail level.

Food Additives

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of food additives in use in the United Kingdom are regulated by the EU; and if he will make a statement. [2634]

Mr. Rooker: Harmonised EU rules have now been introduced for the vast majority of food additives in use in the United Kingdom. These include all colours, sweeteners, flavourings and extraction solvents and 24 classes of miscellaneous additives. Harmonised rules for the use of flour treatment agents are currently being discussed. Only a very few miscellaneous additives and some carrier solvents now remain subject to national controls only.

Processed Food

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of food consumed in the United Kingdom is processed food; and if he will make a statement. [2636]

Mr. Rooker: Virtually all foodstuffs undergo some form of processing before sale to consumers. If my hon. Friend has a particular concern, perhaps he will write to me.

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