§ Lord Beaumont of Whitleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether crop varieties genetically engineered to be resistant to insects or other crop pests will be required to have an approval under current or future pesticide legislation. [HL3581]
§ Lord DonoughuePlant varieties genetically modified to be resistant to insects or other crop pests must comply with the requirements of the UK National List system (which considers, amongst other things, the agronomic performance of varieties) before they can be marketed.
The crop varieties themselves do not require an approval under pesticides legislation. However, the use of a pesticide on a crop genetically modified to be resistant to that pesticide will require such approval, which will be considered on the basis of appropriate safety and efficacy data. Prior consent under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations is required for the release of the crop into the environment.