Vol. 474 No. 6
242 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if the Government will support the EU initiative for a United States, food and drugs administration style, regulatory and control body on food safety across Europe. [3716/97]
There is no EU initiative, as such, to establish a US-style food and drugs administration. It has, however, been mentioned by the EU Commission that it considers that it would be desirable to divide functions in regard to food safety between the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Directorates, with the former being responsible for legislation and the latter for control on implementation. In so far as my responsibilities extend I will favourably consider any initiative which may be presented which is aimed at strengthening the controls on food safety.
In this regard the Government has already decided to establish a food safety authority whose functions will be primarily to audit the food safety controls carried out by Departments and official inspection agencies.
