§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has undertaken into the allergenic potential of genetically engineered food; and if he will make a statement. [12896]
§ Mr. RookerThe EC Novel Foods Regulation (258/97) introduced an EU wide pre-market approval system for genetically modified foods. In the UK the independent Advisory Committee for Novel Foods and Processes assesses the safety of such foods paying particular attention to their allergenic potential. This Department funds research work worth some £1 million per year, to underpin the ACNFP's safety assessment procedures. It is standard practice to encourage the publication of results from such research.