asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he proposes to make it compulsory for each pack of pre-packed food to contain an indication of the date by which the contents should be eaten; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Packaging Regulations.
23.
The question of date marking of pre-packed goods is at present being examined by certain international bodies. As we will be expected to comply with international standards, it has been the position to defer decisions on what type of regulation should be introduced here pending settlement of the international standards. I would, however, wish to have an opportunity of studying this matter further before deciding if I would accept this approach.
24.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the findings of the National Prices Commission, he will make an order making it compulsory to have the ingredients printed on each packet of sausages and displayed where sausages are sold loose.
I have no statutory power to make an order of this kind. It may be desirable to take powers to call for display of ingredients of many different foodstuffs and I will consider this when the National Prices Commission give me their views on the whole question of consumer protection.
Was the report not quite alarming? Apparently some of the most expensive sausages had the least pigmeat in them.
I agree with the Deputy and I think that the more discriminating, both by palate and by search for value, the houswife is the better quality of sausage we will have but it is not within my statutory power——
It is very hard to tell from the outside.
Between the pheasants and the sausages the Deputy is having a great time.
25.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make regulations whereby packaged food with brand names will have an appropriate designation which will tell the purchaser what the contents are, listing in descending order by weight the main ingredients of pre-packed food and the name and address of the packer and maker on the label, so as to prohibit, e.g. dog fish, from being described as rock salmon.
I have no power under existing legislation to make the kind of regulations the Deputy has in mind but a false description of the kind the Deputy refers to would be an offence under the Merchandise Marks Acts. The Ministers for Health, and for Agriculture and Fisheries have some legislative powers in regard to labelling of foodstuffs. A Food Standards Bill is at present being prepared jointly by their Departments and mine. It is proposed that this will enable the appropriate Minister to impose such labelling requirements as may be necessary.
When can we expect this Bill to be introduced?
It is in the course of preparation but I cannot give a hard date for it to the Deputy.
Can we expect it to get at least a First Reading in this session?
I cannot answer that definitely but I would think it unlikely, to be perfectly frank.
It will depend on the Opposition.
It is of some urgency.