Phil Hogan
Question:361 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health the tests which are carried out by his Department to ensure the safety of all food additives; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Food Safety Tests.
The statutory basis for control exercised by my Department over the use of food additives is to be found in a series of regulations made under the Health Acts, 1947-70, and the European Communities Act, 1972. These regulations specify the additives which may be used in food and in some cases restrict the use of specified additives to certain foods up to specific limits. They are regularly updated to take account of EC Directives.
In addition to these specific controls, the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts and the Food Hygiene Regulations contain provisions which provide general protection to the public by prohibiting the sale of food which is adulterated, contaminated or otherwise unfit for human consumption.
I should add that the use of permitted additives is kept under constant review in this country by an expert advisory body, namely, the Food Safety Advisory Committee. In the event of the committee expressing concern about the safety of a particular additive, appropriate action in the interest of public health and safety would be taken.
The statutory controls are enforced by the health boards. Each health board conduct planned food sampling programmes under which different foods are sampled and analysed on a regular basis. The samples are analysed by the public analysts for compliance with specified regulations, where these exist, and for compliance with the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts and the Food Hygiene Regulations. The tests used, where these are not prescribed in the relevant legislation, are internationally recognised ones. Where a sample is found not to comply with the law, the analysts issue a certificate on the basis of which prosecution proceedings may be taken by the health board.