HC Deb 06 February 1997 vol 289 cc719-20W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the (a) dates and (b) conclusions of the meetings which his Department has held with food producers to discuss genetic engineering in the last two months; and if he will make a statement. [14485]

Mrs. Browning

I held a series of meetings on 7 January with the animal feed trade, food manufacturers, retailers and consumer organisations to discuss genetic modification. All groups were keen to ensure that consumers were fully informed about the potential benefits genetic modification offers.

The Department also organised a very successful consultation meeting on 22 January with a wide range of interested groups including environmental and non-governmental organisations, consumer representatives and food producers. The meeting provided an opportunity for those with concerns to air them and identify any changes needed to existing safeguards. These results will be considered further at a national biotechnology conference to be held on 10 March.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the potential dangers of allowing unprocessed genetically engineered maize to enter the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [14486]

Mrs. Browning

The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes advised that the use of processed genetically modified maize was safe, although there was a small but finite risk associated with the use of Ciba Geigy's GM maize in an unprocessed form. The ACNFP's concerns were examined in detail by three EC scientific committees, which concluded that the risk was too small to justify banning imports into the Community. There are therefore no grounds on which the Government can legally object to the use of this material.