asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if there are any standards enforced by his Department as to the contents of soft drinks on sale in this country and, in particular, in regard to the percentage of real fruit juice present in fruit drinks.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Soft Drinks Standards.
32.
There are no standards enforced by my Department concerning the contents of soft drinks. My powers to make compulsory standards under the Industrial Research and Standards Act, 1961, are limited to matters where safety is involved.
Would the Minister not agree that it might be wise to extend the Minister's power in this regard in order to prevent consumers being conned into buying something as something which it is not, namely, fruit juice which does not contain any fruit?
That particular aspect of misrepresentation of goods is something which is being examined in my Department.
Would the Minister agree that the individual consumer is not in a position to take action in this matter and that it is up to the Minister to do something?