§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which companies or other organisations are conducting contained use work with genetically modified organisms—group I or group II for research or commercial programmes—and at which sites in the United Kingdom; if he will list the documentation he or other public bodies hold concerning the nature of the work undertaken; and what monitoring he has implemented at these sites.
§ Mr. OppenheimI have been asked to reply.
I have arranged for the names and addresses of all persons, companies and other organisations, who have notified premises to be placed in the Library. For all of these notifications the Health and Safety Executive holds the information provided, which includes a description of the modified organism and the activity, and an assessment of the risks to human health and the environment. It also holds similar information for certain individual activities of higher risk.
There are two forms of monitoring of the regulations. It is the responsibility of the person notifying to monitor, where necessary, for the presence of viable genetically modified organisms outside the primary physical containment. In addition, HSE's specialist inspectorate monitors compliance through a programme of inspection and enforcement.
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the regulation of contained use activities with genetically modified organisms.
§ Mr. OppenheimI have been asked to reply.
All contained use activities involving genetically modified organisms are controlled under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992. The regulations have now been in force for two years. The experience so far has been that they have provided adequate safeguards to protect human health and the environment.