§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what ethical guidelines exist in respect of the development of genetically modified organisms; what structures there are for the control of (i) development and (ii) release of genetically modified organisms; and how many genetically modified organisms have been (1) developed and (2) released in each year since 1989. [17064]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThere are no specific ethical guidelines in respect of the development of genetically modified organisms which may subsequently be released to the environment. The structures for the control of development and release of GMOs include the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the GMO (Contained Use) Regulations 1992; the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the GMO (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 and 1995, and the GMO (Contained Use) Regulations 1993. Records are not kept each year of how many GMOs have been developed. Prior to the regulations requiring a consent for the release of GMOs coming into force on 1 February 1993, there had been about 50 releases of GMOs in the United Kingdom. Since that date, consents to 897W release GMOs to the environment have been issued as follows: 15 in 1993, 24 in 1994, and to date, 15 in 1995.