Written question asked by Judy Mallaber (Labour) on Wednesday, 5 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 19 November 2003. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 November 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will assess the adequacy of charges available to prosecutors under food regulations.

Answer: Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will assess the adequacy of charges available to prosecutors under food regulations. [137584] Miss Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply. As part of its action plan to implement the recommendations of the Waste Food Task Force, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has undertaken to consider a number of legal issues with stakeholders. These issues include the offences available to enforcers when taking prosecutions for illegal diversion of unfit meat, the penalties available for such offences, the time limits for investigation of these offences and the issues involved with lack of a power of arrest for food safety offences. The FSA will be discussing these issues with stakeholders at a seminar on 26 November 2003 to discuss the lessons to be learned from the prosecutions in the Denby Poultry Products case.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 137584; 413 c891W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Crime Law and order Food Standards Regulation Waste Food Task Force
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk