§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent meetings she has had with her EU counterparts to discuss regulation of GM crops; and if she will make a statement; [58128]
(2) what recent meetings she has had with her counterparts in the EU at which plans to change the procedure for approval of GM foods and seeds within the EU was discussed. [58547]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Secretary of State attended Environment Council in October 2001, at which the proposed regulations on traceability and labelling of food and feed products derived from genetically modified organisms were discussed. She also attended the Agriculture Council on 23 October, at which the proposed regulations for GM food and feed and the proposed regulations on traceability and labelling were discussed.
§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what bilateral meetings she and her officials have had with the United States Department of Agriculture at which the subject of GM crops was discussed; and if she will make a statement. [58127]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Secretary of State visited the USA in December 2001 and April 2002 and discussed GM crops in meetings with her counterparts. There have recently been discussions of an informal nature at official level with USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Agricultural Research Service.