§ Ms DrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Biotech Unit will update its public register on the list of trial sites where GMOs may be released to include the list of sites where winter oil seed rape was planted last autumn for research and development. [65588]
§ Mr. MeacherAventis, the consent holder, notified the Joint Regulatory Authority (Biotech Unit) of the proposed locations of trial sites for planting of winter oil seed rape last autumn on 26, 27 and 31 July 2001. In all cases the location of trial sites was added to the Public Register within 2 working days.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether(a) scientific assessments, (b) peer reviews and (c) field scale evaluations outside the formal regulatory process will be a pre-requisite for investment in new start-up companies carrying out research and development in agricultural biotechnology. [65518]
§ Ms HewittI have been asked to reply.
Scientific assessment, peer review and regulatory requirements are all important factors in the normal due diligence exercise carried out by any investor in new high technology ventures.