§ Ms DrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for a certification scheme to regulate the commercial release of genetically modified crops. [60602]
§ Mr. MealeCommercial release of genetically modified crops is regulated under part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 (amended). Together these implement European Directive 90/220/EEC (Amended) on the Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Organisms. Under this regulatory framework genetically modified crops cannot be released commercially without prior marketing consent within the European Community. Applications for marketing consent are underpinned by a detailed risk assessment of the genetically modified crop and its intended use.
§ Ms DrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to license commercial releases of genetically modified crops in 1999; which genetically modified crops will be released in that year; and what form the scientific evidence from the farm-scale trials will take. [60605]
§ Mr. MealeThe commercial release of genetically modified crops is licenced at European Community level under part C (marketing consent) of Directive 90/220/EEC. No decision has been made about which crops will be included in the farm-scale evaluations in 1999, but we expect that they will include Plant Genetic System's herbicide tolerant oilseed rape (European Community refs C/GB/94/M1/1 and C/GB/95/05–01 A and B). The specification and scientific details of the ecological monitoring of farm-scale plantings of GM crops are still in the early stage of development. An announcement will be made in due course.