§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the environmental and health risks posed by the release into the environment of genetically modified micro-organisms; and if he will make a statement. [94168]
§ Mr. MeacherAll activities involving the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms (GMMs) are required to be assessed for potential risk to both human health and the environment by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992, as amended. These Regulations also require that control measures are used to limit contact of the GMMs with the environment and general population so that harm is not caused.
For higher hazard GMMs release, to the environment must be prevented. This is achieved by application of extremely stringent control methods and 100 per cent. kill of all waste and contaminated material before disposal. For low hazard GMMs, control measures must minimise release. Although absolute prevention of release in these cases is not required, waste is still treated to inactivate the GMMs prior to disposal with, typically, at least 99.999 per cent. of GMMs being killed. In all cases the risk assessment must be used to ensure that the control measures, including the degree of inactivation, to prevent or minimise release are commensurate with maintaining a high level of safety for both human health and the environment.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the arrangements for public involvement in decision making about the use of genetically modified micro-organisms; and if he will make a statement. [94163]
§ Mr. MeacherAll activities involving the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms (GMMs) are regulated under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992, as amended. The Regulations require all activities to be assessed for potential risk to both human health and the environment. All activities involving hazardous GMMs have to be notified to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Although there are provisions in these Regulations for information to be available to the public, including a public register with information from all premises undertaking work with hazardous GMMs, there are no provisions for statutory consultation with the public on individual activities. However, members of the public may request copies of activity notifications and are free to comment on activities to HSE. These comments will be considered and action taken as appropriate. Improvements to the public register proposed by the Health and Safety Commission in a recent consultation document on proposed new contained use legislation will greatly aid public access to information and therefore the ability to comment.
494W
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that inactivated waste from factories and laboratories does not contain living genetically modified micro-organisms; and if he will make a statement. [94172]
§ Mr. MeacherNone at this time.
The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992, as amended, require that users limit contact of GMMs with the environment and the general population. In all cases the degree of limitation must relate to the level of risk. For hazardous GMMs "limit" must be interpreted as "prevent". Control measures in these cases will include inactivation of waste material to give 100 per cent. kill.
The European Directive on the contained use of GMMs has been revised. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has consulted on proposals to implement the revised Directive by replacing the 1992 Regulations. The handling and treatment of waste was one of the key aspects consulted on. The responses to the consultation are being analysed.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to extend inspections of sites using genetically modified micro-organisms to include those currently classified as low-risk; and if he will make a statement. [94166]
§ Mr. MeacherAll sites where work with any genetically modified micro-organisms (GMMs) is to take place must notify HSE and are subject to inspection by HSE Specialist Inspectors. HSE is currently considering how to improve its arrangements for regulating risks from such biological agents and this will include inspection of sites using low risk GMMs.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce independent assessments of the risks of genetically modified micro-organism use at registered sites; and if he will make a statement. [94169]
§ Mr. MeacherNone at this time.
Provisions for independent assessment of risks relating to hazardous genetically modified micro-organisms (GMMs) at premises undertaking contained use activities already exist. All premises and all activities involving hazardous GMMs are required to be notified to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992 (as amended). HSE's technical specialists, together with experts in other relevant Departments, scrutinise the risk assessments supplied with all notifications. In addition, advice can be sought from the Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification (ACGM).
The Regulations are due to be replaced by new legislation in Spring 2000 in order to implement the revised European Directive on the contained use of GMMs. The Directive requires that notification and an independent scrutiny is maintained for premises and all activities involving hazardous GMMs. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has consulted on proposals for the new legislation. Responses are being analysed.
495W
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce regulations specifying the maximum level of genetically modified micro-organisms in waste; and if he will make a statement. [94164]
§ Mr. MeacherNone at this time.
The Regulations which control all contained use activities involving genetically modified micro-organisms (GMMs)—the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992, as amended—are intended to be replaced in Spring 2000. New Regulations are required to implement the revision of the European Directive on the contained use of GMMs. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has recently undertaken a public consultation on proposed new Regulations. The proposals did not include specifying limits for the numbers of GMMs which can be in waste. However, they did propose that there should be a requirement that all GMM containing waste be inactivated prior to disposal, unless users had the agreement of the authorities to do otherwise. Such agreement would only be given if fully justified by the risk assessment. In all cases the level of inactivation (ie percentage kill) must be commensurate with the level of risk. For hazardous GMMs inactivation must be 100 per cent.
Responses to the consultation are being analysed. I expect HSC to submit proposals to me early in 2000. It would be inappropriate to pre-empt their advice.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will backdate to pre-1992 the Health and Safety Executive's public register of centres using genetically modified micro-organisms; and if he will make a statement. [94171]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992, as amended, require the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to maintain a public register with information from all premises which undertake contained use activities with hazardous genetically modified micro-organisms (GMMs).
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) recently consulted on proposals to replace these Regulations in order to implement revisions to the European Directive on the contained use of GMMs. The proposals included significant improvements in the quality and quantity of information to be placed on the public register. In particular, it was proposed to include information from all premises undertaking contained use activities, even those originally notified prior to 1992.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase the resources dedicated by the Health and Safety Executive to the inspection of sites using genetically modified micro-organisms; and if he will make a statement. [94167]
§ Mr. MeacherHSE is reviewing the way it inspects sites handling genetically modified organisms and biological agents to take account of the increased activity in this field and also to ensure that public concern is properly addressed. An internal HSE review will put forward recommendations in November 1999 and I am sure that HSE will wish to act on them as soon as possible. I believe it is right that HSE should consider ways in496W which it can continually improve its enforcement and inspection duties to ensure that risks are being properly controlled.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to improve the monitoring and control of discharges of genetically modified micro-organisms into the environment; and if he will make a statement. [94170]
§ Mr. MeacherNone at this time.
All activities in containment (eg laboratories, production facilities) are regulated under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992, as amended. These Regulations require all genetically modified micro-organisms (GMMs) to be controlled so as to limit contact with the environment and the general population. GMMs are inactivated prior to disposal. Users are required to test and maintain control measures and to test (ie monitor) when necessary for the presence of viable GMMs outside of the primary physical containment. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Specialist Inspectors enforce the requirements of the Regulations. This includes scrutinising users' monitoring data and inactivation methods.
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has consulted on proposals for new Regulations to implement a revision to the contained use of GMMs European Directive. Responses are being analysed. I expect HSC to submit its final proposals to me early in 2000. It would be inappropriate to pre-empt HSC's advice.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to require all registered users of genetically modified micro-organisms to provide information about their use; and if he will make a statement. [94165]
§ Mr. MeacherNone at this time.
The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992 (as amended) require users undertaking contained use activities with GMMs which may be hazardous to humans or the environment to notify the individual activities to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) before commencing work. Activities of negligible risk are not required to be notified, but users are required to provide information to HSE Specialist Inspectors if requested or during site inspections.
The Regulations are to be replaced in Spring 2000 to implement the revised European Directive on the contained use of GMMs. The Directive requires that users provide information to the authorities on all activities involving hazardous GMMs. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) have consulted on proposals for the new legislation. Responses are being analysed.