§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what scientific evidence he took into account in agreeing with the industry to permit farm-scale planting of herbicide-tolerant genetically modified seeds. [57424]
§ Mr. MeacherAll the Herbicide Tolerant Genetically Modified crops to be included in the farm-scale plantings will be covered by a consent issued under Directive 90/220. Such Consents are granted only after consideration of an assessment of the risks to human health and the environment based on best current scientific evidence and the advice of ACRE and the statutory conservation agencies, including English Nature. The advice from ACRE and the evidence on which that advice is based are held on DETR's public register.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the applications for the marketing of genetically modified oilseed rape which are currently being reviewed at the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology; what is the scope and purpose of the review; if he will publish the result of the review at the same time as it is made available to the Advisory Committee on Releases into the Environment; and what consultation will be undertaken before the Committee makes its recommendations. [57423]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (ITE) have been commissioned by the Department to review the applications by Plant Genetic Systems for consent to market their hybrid system oilseed rape in the European Community ref. C/GB/94/M1/1 and C/F/95/05–01 A and B. The scope and purpose is to review the information provided by Plant Genetic Systems when the dossiers were considered by member states in 1994–96 and any relevant new information available since then, which may affect the assessment of the risk to human health and the environment, and then present the review to ACRE. ACRE will then give further advice to the Secretary of State undertaking consultation as they think fit before making their recommendation. The review will be published as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what seeds will be permitted to be planted under the recent agreement between industry and the Government concerning the planting of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant seeds; what regulatory consents currently apply to such seeds; if the seeds which will be planted thereunder, or the seeds derived from such planting, will be sold or otherwise marketed; if the seeds which will be planted thereunder will be authorised for such planting under Part II or Part III of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 or otherwise; what companies will be authorised to plant the seeds and over what period of time; where the seeds will be planted; if public participation will be allowed in the monitoring; and who will carry out that monitoring. [57452]
§ Mr. MeacherWe have reached agreement in principle with the plant breeding industry for a programme of managed development of herbicide tolerant crops whereby the first farm-scale plantings are strictly limited 569W and monitored for ecological effects alongside comparable plantings of conventional crops. We have yet to reach final agreement on the seeds that will be planted, but in the first instance, we expect to include Plant Genetic Systems genetically modified hybrid system oilseed rape which has approval for seed production under a consent issued by the UK in 1996, and is currently awaiting a consent to be issued by the French Government (Member States voted in favour of the product in December 1996) to extend its use to food and animal feed.
Any sowings in the programme of managed development will be carried out either (a) under Part II of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 where the material has not yet been issued marketing approval by one of the EU Member States under Directive 90/220 and the purpose of the trials is to collect information in support of such an application or (b) under part III of the same regulations where the product has already been granted marketing approval.
The seeds derived from such plants in the managed development programme may be sold if they are covered by Part III approval and also satisfy all other regulatory requirements. The details of the farm-scale plantings and associated monitoring have yet to be agreed. The monitoring results will be made public.
Summary of applications to market genetically modified insect-resistant crops Date submitted Competent authority France Notifier Reference CM crop Scope of application Date of consent 31 March 1995 France Ciba-Geigy C/F/4/11–3 maize Use in agriculture in EC and importation of grain into the EC 5 February 1997 12 March 1996 France Pioneer Hi-Bred International C/F/95/12–01/B maize Growing, import, storage and processing of grain and maize products for use in food, feed and industrial products Vote taken in Regulatory Committee. Outcome unknown 3 June 1996 UK Northrup King Company C/GB/96/M4/1 maize Importation of grain only 9 June 1998 12 June 1996 France Monsanto Europe C/F/12/02 maize Production of maize in the EC and import, storage and processing for use in feed, food and industrial products Commission adopted decision 22 April 1998. Consent believed to be issued, but not confirmed 17 December 1997 Spain Monsanto Europe C/ES/96/02 cotton The same purposes as non-GM commercial cotton varieties Vote not yet taken by Commission 23 June 1998 Netherlands Dekalb Genetics Corporation C/NL/97/17 maize The same purposes as non-GM maize varieties Vote not yet taken by Commission
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how the Government's decision to permit the farm-scale planting of herbicide tolerant crops will be affected by the results of the review of applications for the marketing of genetically modified oilseed rape. [57749]
§ Mr. MeacherThe review relates to the application by Plant Genetic Systems for consent to market their hybrid system oilseed rape which is also herbicide tolerant. We will have to await the findings of the review to determine whether it will affect the farm-scale planting programme.
570W
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provisions he has sought to have included in the SCIMAC code of practice to give the public the opportunity to assess compliance with the code's provisions. [57750]
§ Mr. MeacherThe draft SCIMAC code of practice and guidelines for growing herbicide tolerant genetically modified crops has provisions for ensuring compliance through a formalised programme of crop inspection. This process will be subject to random independent audit and review. I shall be encouraging SCIMAC to publish the results of these audits.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the applications for licences for genetically modified insect-resistant crops which were pending at the time of his recent announcement of a moratorium, indicating in each case the proposed terms relating to the date of marketing. [57910]
§ Mr. MeacherThe plant breeding industry has made a commitment that no insect resistant GM crops will be introduced into the UK for the next three years.
Applications to market crops genetically modified for insect resistance are described in the table. In all cases insect resistance has been conferred by the introduction of a Bt gene. The current position of each application in the regulatory process is given in the 'date of consent' column.