§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the results of the genetically modified crops trials. [39275]
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§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 28 February 2002]: We currently expect that the first results of the Farm Scale Evaluations for certain spring-sown herbicide tolerant genetically modified crops will he published in a peer reviewed scientific journal in the summer of 2003. The independent Scientific Steering Committee, which oversees the evaluations, will publish its advice to Government at the same time.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many genetically modified crops were imported into the UK for the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [39273]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 28 February 2002]: Grain and derived products from the following genetically modified crops have approval under Directive 90/220/EEC for importation into the European Community, dating from 1996 onwards. No figures of amounts imported are available.
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Crop Modification Company Consent Reference Soybean Herbicide tolerant Monsanto C/GB/94/M3/1 Oilseed rape Herbicide tolerant Aventis C/GB/95/M5/1 Maize Insect resistant and herbicide tolerant Northrup King C/GB/96/M4/1 Maize Insect resistant and herbicide tolerant Ciba-Geigy C/F/94/11–03 Maize Insect resistance Monsanto C/F/95/12/02 Maize Herbicide tolerance Aventis C/F/95/12/07
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her policy towards growing genetically modified crops. [39274]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 28 February 2002]: The Government have an open mind about genetically modified (GM) crops. Our first priority is to protect human health and the environment. No GM crop can be grown in the environment for research or commercial purposes without prior assessment and approval in compliance with the European union regulatory regimes.
In addition, the Farm Scale Evaluation research programme will provide information about the effect, that the management practices associated with GM herbicide tolerant crops might have on farmland wildlife, when compared with weed control used with equivalent non-GM crops. There will be no commercial growing of GM crops until the evaluations are completed and only then if the crops and associated farming practices are assessed as causing no unacceptable impact on the environment. The results of the evaluations will enable a more informed decision to be taken about the possible use of this technology.