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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Jun 1982

Vol. 336 No. 5

Written Answers. - Food Labelling.

523.

asked the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism whether he intends to amend the relevant regulations to ensure that all food, confectionery and other similar consumer items will carry a full description in intelligible and accurate language of the contents of such products; if he is satisfied with the present position in this respect; and the controls or monitoring he operates at present to ensure that the public interest and public health are safeguarded.

My Department are at present finalising draft regulations to implement EEC Directive 79/112, known as the Food Labelling Directive. These regulations will require the labels of prepacked food to give a clear and easily understandable indication of, among other things, the ingredients of the product. I expect to be making the regulations shortly and I am confident that they will represent a significant advance in the level of information available to consumers.

With regard to the Deputy's reference to public health, I understand that the Department of Health, through the health inspectorate, carries out an elaborate food sampling programme with a view to ensuring that public health is safeguarded, and that this operates satisfactorily.

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