HC Deb 16 March 1998 vol 308 c480W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to discuss with the American authorities their intention to redefine organic food, enabling greater use of genetically modified organisms. [34098]

Mr. Rooker

The United States Department of Agriculture has published proposed rules for organic food production and has invited comments. These proposals contain several controversial features and the Government are responding both via the European Community and in the context of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling. We are making plain that we will accept only organic imports to the European Community that are produced and certified under standards equivalent to our own.