§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made within the EU upon the regulation of genetically modified organisms, including plans for segregation and labelling. [37674]
§ Mr. RookerA comprehensive EU wide framework exists to regulate all activities relating to genetically modified organisms (GMO) providing for the protection of human health and the environment. The principal elements of this are:
- (a) the Contained Use Directive (90/219) which controls the use of genetically modified microorganisms in any facility. A proposal to amend this is currently being considered by the European Parliament.
- (b) the Deliberate Release Directive (90/220) which controls the release of GMOs into the environment. A proposal to amend this has recently been published by the EU Commission.
- (c) the EC Novel Foods Regulation (258/97) which controls the use of GMOs in the production of foodstuffs. A Commission proposal setting out detailed dfrules for the labelling of GM soya and maize is currently being discussed in Brussels and is expected to be agreed shortly.
A requirement to segregate a crop when it has been approved following an extensive safety assessment would contravene World Trade Organisation rules. Companies are however, perfectly entitled to reach commercial agreements with suppliers to obtain GM free materials. A list of non-GM soya suppliers which was published by this Department on 30 March, is available in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his policy to apply the precautionary principle to the public availability of genetically manipulated foods. [37519]
§ Mr. RookerGenetically modified foods are made available to the public only if they have been approved following a rigorous safety assessment. This assessment is carried out in the UK by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes which always takes a precautionary approach in arriving at its conclusions.