HC Deb 23 February 1998 vol 307 cc94-5W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will issue a moratorium on the introduction of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops. [30420]

Mr. Rooker

We are considering the introduction and management of genetically modified herbicide tolerant crops on the farm and shall be announcing our decision shortly.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received from his statutory advisers on herbicide-tolerant crops. [30421]

Mr. Rooker

The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) is the Government's statutory adviser on applications to release or market genetically modified crops.

In the case of herbicide-tolerant crops, ACRE has advised that the evidence suggests there is unlikely to be a risk from the release of glufosinate ammonium tolerant oilseed rape and that it is content that this crop can be placed on the market. ACRE has also given similar advice for the marketing of maize tolerant to glyphosate or glufosinate ammonium herbicides and glyphosate tolerant fodder beet.

Experimental releases of glyphosate tolerant oilseed rape are also taking place in Great Britain, and in this case ACRE has advised that an isolation distance of 50m be imposed as a condition to consents until further information is provided to support the removal of the isolation distance. Glyphosate tolerant sugar beet has also been released for trials, but with the condition that all "bolters" are removed before they flower.

ACRE has also issued general advice that all bags of genetically modified seed are clearly labelled as herbicide tolerant, stating the herbicide to which they are tolerant.