§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, column 356, what steps he is taking to ensure that tryptophan is not present in genetically engineered soya imported into the United Kingdom. [3465]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 18 June 1997]: The amino acid tryptophan occurs naturally in a wide range of crops, including soya. In assessing the safety of the genetically modified soya, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes compared the levels of tryptophan present with those found in non-GM varieties of soya and concluded that they were equivalent. The committee also considered the results of a range of animal feeding studies, none of which showed any adverse effects. As a further safeguard, the company which applied for the authorisation has agreed to monitor the genetic stability of the crop by providing periodic updates on the levels of nutrients in both the genetically modified and related non-genetically modified forms.