asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what statutory instruments he has made to ensure that containers for food and drugs accurately describe their contents and list their ingredients; and if he has any plans to extend the scope of the legislation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Food and Drug Labelling.
48.
There are certain specific requirements about the labelling of food and drugs operated by the Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries and for Health respectively.
As regards more general labelling requirements for which I am responsible, the position is that at present there is no general obligation to give a description of the contents of containers or to list their ingredients, but where such information is given it must be accurate, since the giving of false information in this regard would be an offence under the Merchandise Marks Acts.
I have in an advanced stage of preparation, under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1970, an order which will require the principal kinds of foods, when prepacked, to carry an indication of their quantity. My Department is also working in conjunction with the Departments of Agriculture and Fisheries and of Health on food standards legislation which will provide inter alia that labels on food products may be required to give information as to contents and ingredients.