§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 30 April 1998,Official Report, column 179, how many of the consents for the release of the GMOs were under (a) standard, (b) stream-lined, (c) fast-track and (d) any other procedures. [42990]
§ Angela EagleThe 147 consents issued to date comprised of 56 Standard, 36 Stream-lined and 55 Fast-track applications. The terms 'Standard',6W 'Stream-lined' and 'Fast track' refer to different administrative procedures used to process consent applications under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 (amended 1995 and 1997). The amount of information required to consider an application is the same in each case. The stream-lined procedure has not been used since 1995, but when operational it allowed the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment to provide expert advice by post rather than at a meeting.
Of the Standard and Fast-track applications, since 8 March 1995, 41 were dealt with under the First-Simplified Procedure. The First Simplified Procedure takes account of European Commission Decision 94/730/EC which enables a single release consent to cover a programme of work over a number of years. The provisions of the First Simplified Procedure, the criteria for qualification and the duty of the consent holder are published in DOE/ACRE Guidance Note 7 Guidance to the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1995. A copy of this has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under which procedure GMO release consent 95/R13/6 was granted. [42991]
§ Angela EagleThe application was processed as a standard application and granted a consent under the procedure laid down in Commission Decision 94/730/EC (the First Simplified Procedure).
The provisions of the First Simplified Procedure, the criteria for qualification and the duty of the consent holder are published in DOE/ACRE Guidance Note 7 "Guidance to the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1995". This has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons his Department does not require the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and its contractors to apply for release consents under Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in respect of national list trials of genetically-modified seeds. [42992]
§ Angela EagleThe holder of a consent to conduct experimental trials under our deliberate release regulations may delegate third parties to conduct releases on their behalf. In all cases, the consent holder is legally responsible for ensuring that the trial is carried out in accordance with the conditions and limitations of their consent.
MAFF-PVRO (Plant Variety Rights Office) undertake statutory tests and trials on plant varieties in respect of applications for plant breeder's rights or addition to the National List. MAFF-PVRO will not allow genetically modified plant material to enter trials unless the material is covered by a consent issued to the plant breeder by the Secretary of State under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 (as amended in 1995 and 1997) and the trials can comply with any conditions attached to the consent.
When an application for release is made, the applicant is required to supply information on the name, qualifications and experience of the scientist and every 7W other person who will be responsible for planning and carrying out the release of the genetically modified organism and for supervision and safety of the release. This includes applications for consent to release material into National List trials.