§ Lord Hardy of Wathasked Her Majesty's Government:
What advice they have received concerning the adequacy of the regulatory arrangements for the use of genetically modified crops. [HL3189]
§ Lord WhittyThe use of genetically modified crops is controlled by Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 (as amended in 1995 and 1997). These implement fully the European Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms into the environment.
English Nature, on behalf of the statutory nature conservation agencies, has recommended that changes are made in the regulatory system to take account of potential ecological effects when assessing the risks of releasing genetically modified organisms. Potential ecological effects of GMOs are already addressed under the current regulatory regime. However the Government are considering how wider issues, such as agricultural management, can be taken into account.