To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to protect the trade in postal orders for smoked salmon which may be affected by the new regulations in the food Bill.

The Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990 will require certain foods to be kept chilled unless the processing of the food or the method of packaging can be shown to prevent the growth of pathogenic micro-organisms at ambient temperature. Smoked fish is one of the relevant foods. Research is taking place to see how the industry can best adapt to the new regulations.