§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library the programme of development work within the terms of paragraph 6 of the Annexe to the Commission Decision 94/730/EC of 4 November 1994 in respect of GMO release consent reference 95/R13/6. [42091]
§ Angela EagleThe programme of development work for GMO release consent reference 95/R/13/6, to which the hon. Member refers, is entirely covered by information which was supplied in support of that particular application for a release consent, which was made under the first simplified procedure regulated by Commission Decision 94/370/EC. This information, as with all release applications in the UK, can be viewed either on the public register at Ashdown House, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions or at the relevant Regional Office in the vicinity of the release. Details can also always be requested from the Biotechnology Unit, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
The information available includes details of the risk assessment; the sites of the releases; the conditions of the releases; and, in fact, all the other information contained on the file which has not been deemed to be commercially confidential. Therefore, as this information is freely and widely available, I do not consider it appropriate to put the programme of development work for GMO release consent reference 95/R/13/6 into the Library.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what statutory provisions govern the conduct of tests and trials in respect of genetically modified seeds; and if he will make a statement. [41517]
§ Angela EagleAll releases of GMOs into the environment are subject to Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 as amended (1995 and 1997). Accordingly, genetically modified seeds can enter trials and tests only if they have been granted a consent by the Secretary of State. The conduct of each trial is subject to the limitations and conditions of the consent in addition to the general conditions set out in section 112 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in respect of GMOs, and the general conditions relating to National List Trials for any seed.
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§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will prevent planting of genetically engineered maize at Hood Barton, near Totnes in Devon, to avoid possible contamination of the neighbouring organic farm. [42089]
§ Mr. MeacherEven if sown now, the genetically modified crop will not be in a condition to produce pollen until July at the earliest and there is therefore no need to prevent planting. If in the light of any new information it appears necessary to terminate the trial this can and will be done before the flowers produce pollen.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if companies releasing genetically modified organisms into the environment are required to pay for post-release monitoring, including the effects within the wider biological environment. [41481]
§ Angela EagleCompanies holding a consent to release a genetically modified organism are required to pay the full costs of all monitoring of the release, annual subsistence charges to cover inspection by Health and Safety specialist inspectors, and any enforcement costs.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has(a) to improve public participation in and (b) to increase the transparency of the regulatory procedure for consenting to the release of GMOs. [42090]
§ Angela EagleThe Government are currently considering several options to improve public participation in, and transparency of, the regulatory procedure for consenting to the release of GMOs. First, in connection with the forthcoming quinquennial review of the Advisory Committee on Releases into the Environment, the Government will be considering how the deliberations of this Committee might be made more transparent.
Secondly, the Department of Trade and Industry is preparing to undertake a substantial public consultation exercise on the wider—including ethical—issues raised by recent advances in the biosciences, one aspect of which is likely to be the regulatory procedures.
Thirdly, the Government are also looking at improving and increasing the information they place on the Internet in relation to the regulatory procedure for consenting to the release of GMOs, and in doing so, hope to allow greater access to this information. It should also be noted that the current regulatory procedure is already extremely open, with the public able to have access to most of the information supplied in release consent applications.