HC Deb 04 February 1998 vol 305 cc641-2W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he plans to take during the United Kingdom presidency in respect of procedures relating to the marketing and release of genetically modified organisms. [26361]

Mr. Meacher

We have considerable concerns about the current procedures relating to the marketing and release of genetically modified organisms as laid down in Council Directive 90/220 EEC, and in particular about the shortcomings in the operation of the regulatory committee set up under Article 21 of this Directive.

Following the European Commission's presentation at the last Environment Council, we look forward to seeing the formal proposals for revision of this Directive, and hope to have a preliminary discussion of this at the June Environment Council. I shall be pressing for ethical and wider public interest considerations to be taken properly into account in authorisation procedures.