GM Crops (Hansard, 7 April 2000)

§ Joan Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements are in place for inspection of farm-scale trials and other trials of genetically-modified crops to ensure that licence conditions are observed. [118302]

§ Mr. Meacher
We carry out each year a thorough programme of inspections of trials to ensure that crops are being grown in accordance with the consents granted by the Secretary of State. Inspectors are fully trained and qualified in a relevant discipline. If the inspections show that a consent is not being followed, appropriate enforcement action is taken. This can include a formal instruction to remedy, revocation of consent, a prohibition notice or in some cases prosecution. Inspectors pay particular attention to new or inexperienced consent holders and those who have had previous noncompliance problems.

§ Joan Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how often each site in which GM crops are grown will be inspected. [118301]

§ Mr. Meacher
We have recently reviewed the inspection and enforcement regime and under new arrangements we will be able to provide a larger team of inspectors than has been available in the past. This will ensure we can improve further our capacity to ensure compliance with release consents and underpin confidence in the regulatory process.
Our inspectors will visit every GMO release site during the growing season and supply inspection reports for each in a format ready for the Department's website. In addition, inspectors will conduct up to 20 audits of consent holders to ensure that they have effective lines of supervision of staff running the GM field trials and that GM material is disposed of safely in line with the consent.

§ Joan Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he will ensure that the specified separation distances for GM crops are observed (a) during the current planting season and (b) in future years. [118303]

§ Mr. Meacher
Inspectors are asked to examine separation distances when visiting trial sites and take any necessary remedial action if this aspect of the release consent has not been properly followed. Our comprehensive inspection programme for this year and future years will ensure that requirements for separation distances are rigorously enforced.