§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler) of 10 February 1999,Official Report, column 285, on research into the production of genetically modified grasses for grazing, what procedures would need to be adopted under what legislation for the production of such crops for (a) research, including legal grazing by animals and (b) sale for grazing; and what powers he has to prohibit such activity. [72181]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 22 February 1999]: All research releases of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are governed by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 (amended in 1995 and 1997) which give effect to Part VI of the Environment Protection Act 1990 and implement the EC Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms.
Anyone intending to produce or grow genetically modified grasses for research purposes requires a consent from the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. This includes the requirement to carry out a detailed environmental risk assessment.
For grazing to be permitted on grasses grown for research purposes, the consent would have explicitly to include this permission. This would be allowed only where the applicant could show that such activities would involve negligible risk.
The sale of genetically modified grasses is governed by EC Directive 90/220 on the deliberate release of GMOs. No GMO may be sold without a consent issued under this Directive. A notifier may apply through any EC Member State, which then invites comments from all other Member State, before an agreement is reached at Community level. The marketing consent is then valid across the EC.
The Secretary of State may prohibit or restrict the release of the GMO where information comes to light indicating risk to human health or the enviroment.Where this involves the sale of a GMO product, the provisional restriction must be cleared by the European Community in order to have permanent effect.