Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Food Standards Agency

Tuesday 8 June 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial colleagues and the responder are in regular contact with the Food Standards Agency on matters of mutual concern.
  • The Food Standards Agency will release its annual report and hold an annual general meeting the following week.
  • The upcoming report is expected to recommend significant changes concerning live bivalve molluscs.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Anthony Mangnall
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

There are ongoing discussions and meetings between government officials and the Food Standards Agency on matters of common concern.

Question

What recent (a) discussions and (b) meetings have you had with the Food Standards Agency?

Answer from Jo Churchill

My ministerial colleagues and I are in regular contact with the Food Standards Agency on matters of common concern.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide details about specific recent discussions or meetings

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Q2 Anthony Mangnall
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Environment
Context

The Food Standards Agency is due to produce its annual report next week, which may include significant changes affecting the seafood industry.

Question

Next week the Food Standards Agency will produce its annual report and hold its annual general meeting. That report is likely to recommend significant changes regarding live bivalve molluscs, which have a huge impact on my constituency and on the health of the nation for those who eat seafood. Will the Minister commit that any changes recommended in the report next week will be brought forward in record time, so that they may be implemented quickly and we can secure the future of the seafood industry in the United Kingdom?

Answer from Jo Churchill

It is a change to be talking about a different sort of mussel in this place during Health questions. The Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Victoria Prentis) and I are well aware of the challenges that currently face the shellfish industry, and I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Totnes (Anthony Mangnall) for his dogged determination, especially on behalf of those businesses that rely on exports. We will continue to work closely with the FSA, which I know has been working hard to resolve these issues and make progress. I have been advised that there is potential for change to ensure that classifications are awarded in a proportionate and pragmatic way, while continuing to ensure high levels of public health protection.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to implementing changes quickly as requested

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