§ Mrs. Helen JacksonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the effects of using genetically manipulated (i) soya beans and (ii) other products in food production; and if he will publish his Department's conclusions. [8185]
§ Mrs BrowningNo research has been specifically commissioned on soya beans or other genetically manipulated food products although the Department funds generic work worth some £800,000 per year to underpin its safety assessment procedures. In the course of assessing individual foods, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes evaluates extensive safety data. The committee's findings are published in its annual report, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.