§ 18. Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it a condition of licensing GM crop trials, that the licensee take out insurance against being held liable for crop contamination; what financial provision she has made against being held liable for crop contamination; and if she will make a statement. [20574]
§ Mr. MeacherThe European Commission is preparing a proposal for a directive on environmental liability, including in respect of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This initiative is expected to cover liability for damage to biodiversity and serious harm to human health, leaving to member states the issue of liability for economic loss. The Commission intend that the contained use, deliberate release and transport of GMOs should fall within a strict liability regime for significant environmental hazards. I am considering whether liability rules are needed for GM crop releases to complement the Commission's wider proposal, but am not in a position to provide any further details at present. The Government have not made any specific provision against liability for GM crop trials.
§ 23. Mr. RandallTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on genetically modified crop trials. [20579]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Farm Scale Evaluations are a three-year trial programme involving four GM herbicide-tolerant crops. These trials are studying the impact of the herbicide use associated with the GM plants on a range of biodiversity indicators. This can only be done by testing under normal farm conditions. The plants in the trials have passed all regulatory safety standards relating to their release into the environment.
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