The Chair may remember that I had four related questions to the Minister yesterday but I had no chance to pursue them at 3.30 p.m. Yesterday he gave a similar reply to my questions when he said that no evidence existed in relation to additives and sweeteners. Will he agree that, as distinct from Ireland, in the United States any drinks containing artificial sweeteners carry a health risk warning? Since evidence is available that additives such as sweeteners cause tumours in animals is the Minister considering the implementation of a health risk warning here for drinks such as the warning that exist in the US on all tins?

One cannot eliminate nitrate in particular——

I am asking about sweeteners specifically.

The EC regulations in relation to sweeteners is quite adequate at the moment. The American experience is well known. There are no proposals before my Department in that area at the moment. As regards nitrate, it exists in substantial quantities in, for example, spinach and other leafy vegetables and in drinking water. One must maintain a sense of proportion.

Since the Minister says that we are complying with European standards and since American standards indicate that they feel that they should include a health warning on containers, is there a big difference between the American and European standards and is the Minister satisfied that European standards are stringent enough?

The information in my Department is that at the moment the regulations are adequate. I will ask the Food Advisory Committee if there is need for more regulations in this area.