Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 June 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 4 July 2003. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Friday, 4 July 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information he has collated in respect to the discovering of radioactive pollution from technetium 99 in farmed salmon; and what discussions he has had on the discovery with the chairman of the Food Standards Agency.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has collated in respect to the discovering of radioactive pollution from technetium 99 in farmed salmon; and what discussions he has had on the discovery with the chairman of the Food Standards Agency. [122280] Miss Melanie Johnson: The Food Standards Agency (FSA), in conjunction with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, has obtained samples of salmon from 15 fish farms in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The preliminary results of the analyses of these samples show that the concentrations of technetium 99 are very low. The FSA has published data on technetium 99 in other marine species in its annual "Radiation in Food and the Environment" reports. I have had no discussions with the chairman of the FSA on this matter.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 122280; 408 c538W;408 c537-8W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Contamination Fish Pollution Radioactive waste Research Salmon Fish farming Technetium
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk