§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) otherwise supported which deal with the specific aspects of the quantity of herbicide use and its impact when used with genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops. [40543]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Department commissioned a research programme in 1997 to evaluate the impact on the agricultural environment of the release of herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape. Part of this programme will examine the possibility of environmental effects arising from changes in herbicide usage patterns.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he estimates genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops will be commercially available within the United Kingdom; and what labelling requirements will apply to such crops. [40550]
§ Mr. MorleyIt is unlikely that genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops will be available commercially for planting in the United Kingdom before the 1999 growing season. The precise timing will depend on the publication of consents to market issued at European level and on the addition of varieties to the United Kingdom's National List or the European Community Common Catalogue. Existing Regulations require products, including seeds, to carry a label or accompanying document to indicate that the product contains, or consists of genetically modified organisms.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received from the Government's statutory nature conservation adviser in respect of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops; and if he will make a statement. [40554]
459W
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government's statutory advisers on nature conservation, including English Nature, have raised issues relating to changes in agricultural practice and possible indirect effects on biodiversity as a result of the commercial introduction of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops, and the Government are keen to ensure that these issues are addressed properly. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is currently considering such wider issues related to the future commercialisation of genetically modified crops, and will be making proposals in due course.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies his Department has conducted; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential change in farming systems resulting from the availability on a commercial basis of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops. [40555]
§ Mr. MorleyWhen genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops become commercially available in this country, it seems likely that farmers will wish to grow them on a significant scale. The Government believe that the industry will need to develop improved management techniques to ensure that potential problems such as the spread of the herbicide tolerance to other plants are minimised.