Vol. 433 No. 7
44 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, there were to restrict products on health and or environmental grounds; whether the EC's Pierros report proposals are suitable to this country in view of the many indigenous industries that have prospered down through the years, particularly in the area of food; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The food industry is regulated by a number of existing laws of both domestic and EC origin. In addition, as part of the completion of the internal market, further draft directives regulating the use of colours, additives and sweeteners are being considered. Part of the negotiations on these new directives involve establishing the necessary arrangements to ensure the continued availability of traditional foodstuffs.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the report of the European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy on the EC Commission's proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 83/188/EEC. The intent of this directive is to ensure that technical standards adopted by any member state are approved by the EC Commission and that the reasons for adopting these standards are clear and open. The Minister for Trade and Tourism represents Ireland in the Council's deliberations of these issues and would, I have no doubt, consider any particular case which the Deputy might wish to make.
