The Government's drive to cut down on business red tape will switch to the food and drink industry today, with firms being asked to identify regulations holding them back.

A so-called red tape challenge launched by the Prime Minister last month initially covered retail companies but will be open to those in the hospitality, food and drink sector for the next two weeks.

Ministers said they wanted comments on regulations as diverse as covering arsenic and chloroform to ice cream van jingles.

Tourism Minister John Penrose said: "As the Prime Minister said last month, proper standards in things like fire safety and food hygiene are vital for us all, so regulations governing such things should obviously stay. But everyone knows that not all rules and regulations are like this, and there are just too many petty, outdated and repetitive ones holding back business in this country."

Agriculture and Food Minister Jim Paice added: "Global demand for food is rising and there are going to be huge opportunities for the British food and drink industries in the coming years.

"Some regulations, such as those on food safety, make sense and are welcomed by consumers. However, the Government is committed to removing unnecessary barriers to growth and finding alternatives to regulation."

Road transportation, fisheries and manufacturing will be covered in the coming weeks by the campaign to scrap unnecessary regulations.