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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will require chewing gum manufacturers to disclose the full composition of gum base on product labels.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will require chewing gum manufacturers to disclose the full composition of gum base on product labels.
Current food labelling rules permit manufacturers to list ‘gum base’ as an ingredient, where ‘gum base’ means gum preparations used in the manufacture of gum base for chewing gum. Manufacturers can provide more descriptive information relating to ingredients contained in the ‘gum base’ if they wish but this is not a requirement. There are currently no plans to amend the legislation.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the ingestion of microplastics from plastic-based chewing gum on public health.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the ingestion of microplastics from plastic-based chewing gum on public health.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is monitoring and assessing emerging information concerning the wider issue of microplastics in food.
The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) is an independent scientific advisory committee that provides advice to the FSA and other Government Departments. No assessment has been made on the potential impact of the ingestion of microplastics from chewing gum specifically, as the COT is currently considering the issue of microplastics in general.
The COT has previously concluded that there is currently insufficient data to carry out a full risk assessment. Further research is required into standardisation of analytical techniques as well as the effects of microplastics on humans. The FSA is keeping the issue of microplastics under review as new evidence becomes available.
Brits chew 4 billion pieces of plastic chewing gum each year. A single piece releases thousands of microplastics into the body that are linked to cancer, diabetes and strokes. Will the Government consider commissioning independent research into the environmental and health implications of plastic chewing gum?
Brits chew 4 billion pieces of plastic chewing gum each year. A single piece releases thousands of microplastics into the body that are linked to cancer, diabetes and strokes. Will the Government consider commissioning independent research into the environmental and health implications of plastic chewing gum?
I thank the hon. Lady for her important question, and I share her concern about the risks that microplastics may pose to the environment and human health. That is why we are looking at all sources of pollution that enter our rivers, lakes and seas, but there is obviously more work to be done to improve our understanding. The Environment Agency is collaborating with different sectors, including the water industry and National Highways, to increase our evidence base and knowledge of these materials.
May I also express my disappointment about the global plastics treaty? We were unable to reach an international agreement, but I reassure all Members of the House that the Government remain committed to seeking a global solution to the problem of plastic pollution that we all face.
I thank the hon. Lady for her important question, and I share her concern about the risks that microplastics may pose to the environment and human health. That is why we are looking at all sources of pollution that enter our rivers, lakes and seas, but there is obviously more work to be done to improve our understanding. The Environment Agency is collaborating with different sectors, including the water industry and National Highways, to increase our evidence base and knowledge of these materials.
May I also express my disappointment about the global plastics treaty? We were unable to reach an international agreement, but I reassure all Members of the House that the Government remain committed to seeking a global solution to the problem of plastic pollution that we all face.
I thank the hon. Lady for her important question, and I share her concern about the risks that microplastics may pose to the environment and human health. That is why we are looking at all sources of pollution that enter our rivers, lakes and seas, but there is obviously more work to be done to improve our understanding. The Environment Agency is collaborating with different sectors, including the water industry and National Highways, to increase our evidence base and knowledge of these materials.
May I also express my disappointment about the global plastics treaty? We were unable to reach an international agreement, but I reassure all Members of the House that the Government remain committed to seeking a global solution to the problem of plastic pollution that we all face.
Brits chew 4 billion pieces of plastic chewing gum each year. A single piece releases thousands of microplastics into the body that are linked to cancer, diabetes and strokes. Will the Government consider commissioning independent research into the environmental and health implications of plastic chewing gum?
That this House notes with concern that the overwhelming majority of commercially available chewing gum in the UK contains plastic-based synthetic polymers hidden within the ingredients under the term gum base, meaning most consumers are unaware they are chewing and ingesting plastic; further notes that chewing gum is a significant but overlooked source of microplastic ingestion and environmental pollution, with research showing that a single piece of plastic gum can release in excess of 250,000 microplastic particles into the human body; is concerned by growing evidence linking microplastic exposure to health risks, including cancer, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes and infertility; is further concerned that the majority of gum consumers are under the age of 25, a group more vulnerable to the health impacts of microplastic exposure; notes that chewing gum remains largely unregulated in terms of its composition and public health risks; calls on the Government to commission independent research into the public health implications of plastic-based chewing gum; further calls for mandatory transparency in labelling, including a requirement for manufacturers to clearly disclose gum base ingredients in plain language; and urges the Government to explore regulatory measures to limit public exposure to microplastics through chewing gum and to encourage the development and adoption of plastic-free alternatives.
That this House notes with concern that the overwhelming majority of commercially available chewing gum in the UK contains plastic-based synthetic polymers hidden within the ingredients under the term gum base, meaning most consumers are unaware they are chewing and ingesting plastic; further notes that chewing gum is a significant...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the recommendations of the Just one ocean policy brief entitled, Plastic chewing gum: a hidden microplastic health hazard and plastic polluter, published on 19...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the recommendations of the Just one ocean policy brief entitled, Plastic chewing gum: a hidden microplastic health hazard and plastic polluter, published on 19...
No assessment has been made of the potential implications for policies of the recommendations made in the Just one ocean policy brief entitled, Plastic chewing gum: a hidden microplastic health hazard and plastic polluter. The Government is currently considering further actions that can be taken to address the challenges associated with single-use plastic products. We will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic products and/or materials to take a systematic approach, to reduce the use of unnecessary or harmful single-use plastic products.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the effect on the environment of discarded chewing gum.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the effect on the environment of discarded chewing gum.
The Secretary of State has not had recent discussions with the recycling industry on recycling chewing gum.
Defra, in partnership with chewing gum producers, has established the Chewing Gum Task Force through which gum producers will invest up to £10 million over five years to help tackle gum littering and staining.
In 2022, the Task Force provided funding of £1.25 million to help more than 40 councils across the UK remove gum stains from high streets. By combining targeted street cleaning with specially designed signage encouraging people to bin their gum, also provide by the Task Force, participating councils achieved reductions in gum littering of up to 80% in the first two months. Further details can be found in the Year One Annual Report here: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/local-authorities/reduce-litter/gum-litter/chewing-gum-task-force.
The Task Force is currently running a similar scheme for local councils in 2023.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Chewing Gum Taskforce has made on reducing litter.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Chewing Gum Taskforce has made on reducing litter.
The Secretary of State has not had recent discussions with the recycling industry on recycling chewing gum.
Defra, in partnership with chewing gum producers, has established the Chewing Gum Task Force through which gum producers will invest up to £10 million over five years to help tackle gum littering and staining.
In 2022, the Task Force provided funding of £1.25 million to help more than 40 councils across the UK remove gum stains from high streets. By combining targeted street cleaning with specially designed signage encouraging people to bin their gum, also provide by the Task Force, participating councils achieved reductions in gum littering of up to 80% in the first two months. Further details can be found in the Year One Annual Report here: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/local-authorities/reduce-litter/gum-litter/chewing-gum-task-force.
The Task Force is currently running a similar scheme for local councils in 2023.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the recycling industry on recycling chewing gum.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the recycling industry on recycling chewing gum.
The Secretary of State has not had recent discussions with the recycling industry on recycling chewing gum.
Defra, in partnership with chewing gum producers, has established the Chewing Gum Task Force through which gum producers will invest up to £10 million over five years to help tackle gum littering and staining.
In 2022, the Task Force provided funding of £1.25 million to help more than 40 councils across the UK remove gum stains from high streets. By combining targeted street cleaning with specially designed signage encouraging people to bin their gum, also provide by the Task Force, participating councils achieved reductions in gum littering of up to 80% in the first two months. Further details can be found in the Year One Annual Report here: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/local-authorities/reduce-litter/gum-litter/chewing-gum-task-force.
The Task Force is currently running a similar scheme for local councils in 2023.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase recycling of chewing gum.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase recycling of chewing gum.
Defra, in partnership with Keep Britain Tidy and chewing gum producers, have established the Chewing Gum Task Force through which gum producers will take greater responsibility for the litter and staining caused by their products. Gum producers will be investing up to £10 million over five years to help tackle the issue. As part of the programme of works the Task Force will look at ways of supporting innovation and sharing latest research, which might include recycling of chewing gum.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the environmental, (2) the health, and (3) the visual, impacts of chewing gum being deposited in urban environments; and what steps they are taking to ensure that companies benefiting from its sale are contributing to the cleaning of such gum.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the environmental, (2) the health, and (3) the visual, impacts of chewing gum being deposited in urban environments; and what steps they are taking to ensure that companies benefiting from its sale are contributing to the cleaning of such gum.
The Government has made no specific assessment of the environmental, health and visual impacts of chewing gum being deposited in urban environments.
We believe that businesses should try to reduce the amount of litter their products generate. The Litter Strategy for England, published in 2017, sets out how we intend to work with the relevant industries to tackle certain types of particularly problematic litter, including chewing gum.
Defra chairs the industry-funded Chewing Gum Action Group (CGAG), which brings together the main chewing gum producer, Keep Britain Tidy, local government, the Chartered Institute of Waste Management, the Food and Drink Federation and the devolved administrations. The aim of the CGAG is to find and implement sustainable solutions to stop the irresponsible disposal of chewing gum and focus on changing individual behaviour in the long term. The CGAG has run annual behaviour-change campaigns for over ten years. We remain open to exploring other means of securing contributions from the industry to tackle gum litter.
Mars Wrigley Confectionery, a member of the CGAG, has produced a free to use gum littering toolkit. Local authorities, businesses, transport providers or any other organisation interested in reducing gum littering can access readymade campaigns for free. This toolkit was promoted as part of Defra’s ‘Respect the Outdoors’ campaign that was launched this summer. More information can be found at: https://tacklegumlittering.co.uk/.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to the introduction of a tax on chewing gum to be used to fund local authority clean-up programmes for discarded gum.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to the introduction of a tax on chewing gum to be used to fund local authority clean-up programmes for discarded gum.
The Government published the Litter Strategy for England on 10 April. The Strategy sets out a range of measures to tackle litter, which includes chewing gum, and littering behaviour.
HM Treasury has not given consideration to the introduction of a tax on chewing gum.
Motion that this House has considered the Seventh Report from the Communities and Local Government Committee of Session 2014-15, on Litter and fly-tipping in England, HC 607, and the Government response, Cm 9097. Agreed to on question.
Motion that this House has considered the Seventh Report from the Communities and Local Government Committee of Session 2014-15, on Litter and fly-tipping in England, HC 607, and the Government response, Cm 9097. Agreed to on question.
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the Seventh Report from the Communities and Local Government Committee of Session 2014-15, on Litter and fly-tipping in England, HC 607, and the Government response, Cm 9097.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. This was the last report...
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the Seventh Report from the Communities and Local Government Committee of Session 2014-15, on Litter and fly-tipping in England, HC 607, and the Government response, Cm 9097.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. This was the last report...
I congratulate the Chair of the Select Committee on introducing this important debate. He mentions fixed-penalty notices, which I understand can potentially lead to criminal convictions if further steps are taken. Some local authorities might be reluctant to take those steps on the basis that they might criminalise young people....
I congratulate the Chair of the Select Committee on introducing this important debate. He mentions fixed-penalty notices, which I understand can potentially lead to criminal convictions if further steps are taken. Some local authorities might be reluctant to take those steps on the basis that they might criminalise young people....
That is an interesting idea. The Committee misunderstood the position—we do not always get everything absolutely right, but we try. We said that fixed-penalty notices are easy because of their civil nature, but the Government corrected us and said that they are a criminal penalty. The Government should think about...
That is an interesting idea. The Committee misunderstood the position—we do not always get everything absolutely right, but we try. We said that fixed-penalty notices are easy because of their civil nature, but the Government corrected us and said that they are a criminal penalty. The Government should think about...
I thank my hon. Friend for giving way and will commend him and his Committee on the report if I am called to speak by Mr Turner in due course. I was interested to read in the report and the Government response about the difficulty of the relationship with tobacco...
I thank my hon. Friend for giving way and will commend him and his Committee on the report if I am called to speak by Mr Turner in due course. I was interested to read in the report and the Government response about the difficulty of the relationship with tobacco...
We had a serious look at that and received a lot of evidence. We deliberated and came to a reasonable conclusion. The Local Government Association was absolutely clear in its evidence that it is signed up to the local government declaration on tobacco control and believes that that means that...
We had a serious look at that and received a lot of evidence. We deliberated and came to a reasonable conclusion. The Local Government Association was absolutely clear in its evidence that it is signed up to the local government declaration on tobacco control and believes that that means that...
Would that also apply to chewing gum manufacturers?
Would that also apply to chewing gum manufacturers?
No, it does not, because they are not part of the same declaration, but I will come on to chewing gum in a minute, because it is a different but interesting subject.
No, it does not, because they are not part of the same declaration, but I will come on to chewing gum in a minute, because it is a different but interesting subject.