HC Deb 28 October 1999 vol 336 cc945-6W
Joan Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his Department's policy will be in the negotiations at the EU in relation to commercial growing of(a) GM beet produced by Monsanto and (b) GM oil seed rape produced by AgrEvo. [96231]

Mr. Meacher

The UK vote at the EU negotiations will be based solely on the scientific assessment of the information provided in the applications by Monsanto and AgrEvo. In order to vote in favour of granting consents, we would need to be satisfied that the information provided by the companies was accurate and complete. We would also need to be confident that the information showed clearly that there were no significant risks to the environment from the products covered in the consents. This assessment of the risk would be in accordance with the requirements of the Directive at the time the applications were made. However, since the applications were made I, and my colleagues in other Member States, have decided that future applications must include an assessment of a wider range of risks to the environment, including indirect effects and impacts on bio-diversity. We are seeking assurances and commitments from industry that they will provide such assessments through post-market monitoring before any general cultivation in the UK is permitted. Our vote will therefore also be conditional on receiving these commitments.

Joan Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the earliest date by which biotechnology companies could proceed to commercial planting of any GM crops in the UK. [96230]

Mr. Meacher

Before any genetically modified (GM) crop can proceed to commercial planting in the UK, up to four statutory approvals are required. These are: Part C (marketing) consent under European Directive 90/220/EEC, food safety approval under EU Novel Foods and Novel Food Ingredients Regulation (258/97), National List of approved seeds, and pesticide approval to cover, where necessary, the use of a pesticide in different circumstances on the new GM crops.

The crops nearest to gaining all the necessary approvals for commercial planting in the UK are GM herbicide tolerant oilseed rape and GM herbicide tolerant maize. These crops are currently being assessed in the Government's programme of farm-scale evaluations to determine whether or not commercial cultivation would harm farmland bio-diversity. These evaluations are due to be completed in 2003.