Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning)<br />(West Coast) (No 13) (Scotland) Order 2004 (SSI 2004/484)
I am sorry for my slightly late arrival; I got trapped behind a door that would not open.
I thought that we were hearing from the ministers that they would withdraw this policy and introduce a new one. When will that happen and what form will the new policy take?
The new European Union legislation requirement will come into force in January 2006. The Food Standards Agency is currently in discussion with producers about implementing a rigorous system of end-product testing. Those discussions have been going on for some months now because the industry knows that that will happen. It is certainly not a U-turn as it has been described in some quarters. I will let my official answer in more detail about the work that is going on with the industry.
Talks have been continuing with the industry, and the Food Standards Agency will work with it to come up with a system whereby the industry can operate rigorous end-product testing; the FSA can help to support that.
Thank you for the information.
As no member has indicated that they want to debate the instrument, I ask the minister to move the motion.
Motion moved,
That the Health Committee recommends that the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (West Coast) (No 13) (Scotland) Order 2004 (SSI 2004/484) be approved.—[Rhona Brankin.]
The question is, that motion S2M-2002, in the name of Rhona Brankin, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
No.
There will be a division.
For
The result of the division is: For 6, Against 1, Abstentions 1.
Motion agreed to.