HC Deb 22 April 1999 vol 329 c673W
18. Mr. Syms

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about Government health studies into genetically modified foods. [80361]

Mr. Rooker

All genetically modified (GM) foods are subject to a full and rigorous safety assessment before they are approved for sale. To underpin this process, the Department has a research programme with a current budget of £1 million per annum.

21. Mr. Grieve

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the environmental implications of genetically modified food. [80364]

Mr. Rooker

The environmental implications of genetically modified foods are considered in accordance with the provisions of the EC Directive for the Deliberate Release into the Environment of Genetically Modified Organisms (90/220/EEC).

Mrs. Anne Campbell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what safeguards are in place to ensure that consumers have adequate information on genetically modified foods. [80350]

Mr. Rooker

EC Regulation 1139/98, which came into force on 1 September 1998, requires all foods containing genetically modified (GM) ingredients produced from GM soya and maize to be labelled. This sets a precedent for the labelling of all future GM novel foods.