Written question asked by Gwyneth Dunwoody (Labour) on Monday, 8 January 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 January 2001. It was answered by Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 January 2001 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce legislation on food labelling to make it an offence to remove labels when re-packaging foods and to require labels to indicate (a) country of origin, (b) country of production and packing and (c) whether the produce is organic.

Answer: Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation on food labelling to make it an offence to remove labels when re-packaging foods and to require labels to indicate (a) country of origin, (b) country of production and packing and (c) whether the produce is organic. [144757] Ms Stuart: Relabelling when repackaging food is generally necessary in order to ensure that the label gives accurate information on the repackaged product. Failure to remove the original label risks causing confusion. Misleading labelling does give rise to an offence. Origin labelling rules are harmonised at European level. We are actively pressing for these rules to be amended to improve the amount and clarity of origin information on food labels. In the meantime, guidance issued by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in February last year, and placed in the Library, makes clear that origin labelling must be carefully worded to avoid confusion between the origin of ingredients and the place of final processing. Produce that is organic is already generally identified. Organic food production is strictly regulated by written standards. It is illegal to offer for sale any food described as organic unless it has been produced in full conformity with European rules by registered producers.

Secondary information