Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of erucic acid contamination of oilseed rape.

The Government is aware that a high level of erucic acid has been detected in some oilseed rape deliveries to crushing plants over the past year. The Government is working with the industry to understand the cause of the problem. A survey is being carried out by the supply chain to capture data on the seed used as well as the crop production, harvest and storage methods. This information will be independently analysed by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

Maximum permitted levels for erucic acid in products entering the food chain are set under EU Commission Regulation No 1881/2006 (as amended) setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. Local authority enforcement officers undertake routine monitoring to check compliance with the legislation.