Vol. 505 No. 5
80 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the vote by the European Parliament in 1997 to ban pesticides in baby food following reports that 50 per cent of these foods are contaminated with residues of up to 200 pesticides; when the Government will implement the terms of this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11016/99]
In 1997, following from the report to which the Deputy refers, the European Parliament voted in favour of the drafting of legislation which would require infant formulae, follow-on formulae and cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and children to be pesticide free.
EU legislation on infant formulae is set down in Directive 91/321, as amended, and legislation on cereal-based baby foods is set down in Directive 96/5. Arising from the vote by the Parliament, these legal instruments were amended by the Commission to provide for a maximum residue level for pesticides of 0.01 mg/kg in these products. These Commission proposals must be formally approved by the Council and the full European Parliament.
Directive 1999/39 amending Directive 96/5 was adopted by the Council on 6 May 1999 and was published in the Official Journal on 18 May 1999. This directive will come into force in all member states in July 2002.
I understand that the Council formally adopted amendments to Directive 91/321 (as amended) this week.
My Department will shortly commence transposition of these legal instruments into national law.
