HL Deb 13 March 2000 vol 610 cc192-3WA
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in considering allowing the commercial planting of genetically modified maize, they intend to observe the criterion laid down last year (H.L. Deb., 27 May 1999, col. 1129) of limiting such planting of 20 fields for each crop per year. [HL1243]

Lord Whitty

Genetically modified maize has received Europe wide consent for general cultivation, but the Government reached an agreement with the biotechnology industry, through the industry body SCI MAC, in November 1999, that no commercial planting of GM crops will take place outside the Farm Scale Evaluations programme until at least 2003.

The agreement with industry does not set specific limits for the number of GM fields that can be grown in any year, but SCIMAC have agreed to limit planting to the number of fields recommended by the independent Scientific Steering Committee overseeing the evaluations. This is expected to be about 20–25 fields of each crop each year and giving a total of around 60 to 75 fields of each crop over a three-year period.

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they intend to ascertain that planting of genetically modified crops is limited to 20 fields once the commercial release of seed has taken place. [HL1245]

Lord Whitty

The Government reached an agreement with the biotechnology industry, through the industry body SCIMAC, in November 1999, that no commercial planting of GM crops will take place outside the Farm Scale Evaluations programme until at least 2003.

The agreement with industry does not set specific limits for the number of GM fields that can be grown in any year, but SCI MAC have agreed to limit planting to the number of fields recommended by the independent Scientific Steering Committee overseeing the evaluations. This is expected to be about 20–25 fields of each crop each year and giving a total of around 60 to 75 fields of each crop over a three year period.