§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what commitments the Government have made on spot checks for the adventitious presence of GM varieties in seed imports; and if these commitments have been fulfilled. [288]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 25 June 2001]: In May 2000 the Government announced a package of measures relating to seed purity. One of these measures was the checking of seed imports. Between that date and 31 March 2001, the Central Science Laboratory carried out 38 audits 273W of seed companies. From 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 it carried out 45 such audits. These audits have monitored the precautions that seed companies have taken as regards the adventitious presence of GM events in seeds.