Food Safety (Hansard, 14 July 1997)

§ Mr. Tyler
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the elimination of genetically modified organisms from the food chain. [8038]

§ Mr. Rooker
All genetically modified organisms currently in the food chain have been approved on safety grounds following a thorough scientific assessment. I cannot therefore see any reason for preventing their use.

§ Mr. Tyler
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to lay proposals for a food standards agency before Parliament. [8039]

§ Mr. Rooker
We intend to publish a White Paper setting out our proposals or a food standards agency in the autumn, and to consult on a draft Bill early in 1998. The legislation will be laid before Parliament as soon as parliamentary time permits.

§ Mr. Tyler
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's specific policy on risk avoidance in food safety matters. [8042]

§ Mr. Rooker
Risks to the consumer can arise in many different points in the food chain and the Ministry ensures that a comprehensive system of controls and monitoring exists to cover the production of food raw materials, the manufacture of food and its handling and preparation. This combination of controls services to ensure that risks from food are kept to a reasonable minimum. In addition, the Ministry has developed an extensive programme of publicity and advice on food safety issues including food hygiene and nutrition.

§ Mr. Tyler
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the release of genetically modified organisms into the food chain will be controlled by the proposed food standards agency. [8043]

§ Mr. Rooker
It is too early yet to say how the food standards agency might deal with genetically modified organisms for use in food. However it is anticipated that it will take over responsibility for the operation of the EC 91W novel foods and novel food ingredients regulation (258/97) and the running of the independent Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes whose job it is to provide safety assessments for these materials.