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Food Labelling
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will require the labelling of food products to contain information on the age of each ingredient. [82002]
Mr. Rooker: Consumers need information on the minimum durability of food products, so that food can be consumed within its recommended period and while it retains its specific properties. This need is met by the legal requirement to provide 'use by' or 'best before' dates for most prepacked foods. Information on the varying ages of the individual ingredients would not enable consumers to use food within the appropriate timescale.
Food Standards Agency
Mr. Paice:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many existing MAFF staff will be transferred to the Food Standards Agency. [82272]
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Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 27 April 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 23 March 1999, Official Report, column 219.
Mr. Grieve:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what (a) discussions he has had and (b) proposals his Department has put forward at Council of Ministers' meetings in respect of EU fraud; and if he will make a statement. [77777]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 19 March 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 19 March 1999, Official Report, column 858.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times officials from his Department have met their opposite numbers in the US Government and US Embassy to discuss genetically modified organisms and the biotechnology industry since 1 June 1998; and if he will list for each meeting the dates and locations; and the US department whose officials they met. [81082]
Mr. Rooker:
Ministers and officials in this Department are in regular contact with representatives of all those with an interest in biotechnology--including environmental groups, consumer groups and biotechnology companies. We are also following practice and trials in a number of countries overseas, including the United States.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if countries with land borders with countries outside the European Union will be eligible for the pet passport system recommended by Professor Kennedy if they comply with the Office International des Epizooties definition of being free from rabies. [81928]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 26 April 1999]: The Kennedy Group recommended that pet cats and dogs resident in all EU and EEA countries should be eligible for alternative arrangements to quarantine, regardless of whether those countries had land borders with countries outside the European Union. In addition, the Government plan to include Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican in the new arrangements.
The Kennedy Group recommended that, in addition, islands elsewhere in the world meeting the OIE definition of being free from rabies should be included. Other countries which are rabies free but are not islands would not be included. The Government are following the approach of Professor Kennedy's Group here.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries which will be contacted to confirm whether they can comply with the OIE definition of being free from rabies; and when he expects to publish the list of qualifying countries. [81929]
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Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 26 April 1999]: We have already written to the following islands which appear to meet the OIE definition of being rabies free to seek confirmation that this is the case:
Mrs. Brinton:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken recently to urge consumers to purchase pork and bacon that has been reared to high welfare standards. [82443]
Mr. Rooker:
In recent months we have encouraged consumers, retailers, caterers and public procurement bodies to take account of quality and welfare factors when purchasing pigmeat. This encouragement has taken place at industry events, seminars and meetings and in letters. We have also written to all MPs and UK MEPs urging them to support the pig industry in its efforts to meet consumer demands.
Mr. Paice:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire on 15 February 1999, Official Report, column 574, what separate items have to be inspected by the EU Commission before the export ban can
28 Apr 1999 : Column: 210
be lifted; if the abattoirs which apply then will require a second inspection; when he will invite the Commission to carry out the inspections already required; and what remaining issues need to be resolved before that invitation is issued. [72252]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 22 February 1999]: The European Commission inspected our procedures for operating the Date-based Export Scheme (DBES) from 12 to 16 April. During their visit, the inspectors were given demonstrations of the practical operation of the DBES in three slaughterhouses--one in England, one Scotland and one in Northern Ireland. They also visited two farms, an incinerator, an Animal Health Divisional Office and the new Unit in Gloucester which will run the Scheme.
The Commission are now writing a report of their inspection for presentation to the Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC). After the SVC have seen the inspection report, the Commission should set a date from which exports of UK beef produced under the DBES can start.
There is no requirement for the individual abattoirs which decide to participate in the DBES to be inspected by the Commission. The approval of such abattoirs will be dealt with on a national basis.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received on cross-pollination between genetically modified oil seed rape in field trials and the wild weed variety; and if he will make a statement on the latter's resistance to weedkiller. [81781]
Mr. Rooker:
There is no evidence, from MAFF-funded research, of cross hybridisation between oilseed rape and weeds in field trials. However, the research is still at an early stage and it is not possible to exclude the possibility that hybrids may be found. There have been reports of herbicide-resistant wild turnip in oilseed rape fields in some part of the UK. It is likely that the wild turnip, a close relative of oilseed rape, is naturally resistant to the same herbicides as is unmodified oilseed rape.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the meetings which officials from the Plant Variety and Seeds Office have attended with officials from (a) EU member states, (b) the European Commission and (c) the World Trade Organisation since 1 January 1999; and if he will list such meetings planned up to 1 June 1999. [81880]
Mr. Rooker:
The lists requested are set out.
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Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
Bahrain
Barbados
Cape Verde
China (Taiwan)
Cook Islands
Falkland Islands
Fiji
French Polynesia
Japan
Jamaica
Malta
Mauritius
New Caledonia
New Zealand
The Government are accepting representations from other islands not on the list.
Reunion
St. Kitts
St. Lucia
Seychelles
Singapore
Vanuatu.
28 Apr 1999 : Column: 211
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