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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Jul 1972

Vol. 262 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Food Preserving Agents.

13.

asked the Minister for Health the implications for Ireland of EEC law on preserving agents which may be used in foodstuffs for human consumption.

The EEC directives relating to preservatives in food have been considered in my Department and the Irish food industry has been fully consulted.

It appears that no undue difficulties arise for this country out of the requirements of the directives.

Four preservatives used by the food industry in this country are at present not included in the permitted list in the EEC directives but it has been agreed that the position regarding these four will be examined by a committee of experts of all the member and acceding countries, and, if they are found acceptable, they will be included in a revised permitted EEC list. Meanwhile it has been agreed that irrespective of the decision following review, they may continue to be used for a transitional period up to 31st December, 1977.

Could the Minister state what are the prohibited preservatives?

Unless the Deputy is a chemist and has a knowledge of chemistry I do not think they will mean much to him. They are, methyl parahydroxybenzoate, calcium bisulphite, liquid smoke solutions and potassium nitrite.

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