§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been spent by the Government on researching genetically modified foods in each of the last 10 years; and if he will list the projects undertaken. [81923]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 23 April 1999]: The Government have spent the amounts listed in the table in each of the last 10 years on research to underpin the safety assessment of genetically modified foods.
42W
Year £000 1989–90 0 1990–91 0 1991–92 0 1992–93 23 1993–94 95 1994–95 361 1995–96 646 1996–97 569 1997–98 709 1998–99 814 The project titles are as follows.
Tagging genetically engineered organisms.Development of new methods for safety evaluation of transgenic crops.Honey from genetically modified plants: integrity of pollen DNA, and expression of promoters in floral organs.Genetically modified organisms in food-evaluation of in vitro and in vivo models for assessing DNA transfer in gut.Detection of genetically modified organisms in foods.A model system for the quantitative analysis of horizontal spread of DNA from genetically engineered microorganisms GIT.Potential for gene transfer between manipulated bacteria and the resident microflora of the human gut.A model system for the quantitative analysis of horizontal spread of DNA from genetically engineered microorganisms.Regulation and targeting of transgene expression in fruit crops.Causes of instability in transgenic plants.Safety of recombinant DNA technology: gene location, marker elimination and secondary effect.A database of novel foods and food products cleared in countries other than the UK.Genes that have been introduced by genetic modification into crop plants intended for food use.The effect of agriculturally-relevant environmental factors on the expression and stability of genes affecting wheat lip.Survival of DNA in the gut and the potential for genetic transformation of resident bacteria.Evaluating the risks associated with using GMOs in human foods.Impact of transformation methods, construct and gene cassette architecture on the stability and expression of transgenes.Assessment of the risks of transferring antibiotic resistance—determinants from transgenic plants to micro-organisms.Dissemination of GM DNA and antibiotic resistance genes via rumen microorganisms.Risk of gene transfer from genetically modified crop plants to gut bacteria.Causes and consequences of pathogen induced transgene instability.Analytical methods for the detection of genetically modified foods—current and future developments.Implications of secondary metabolites produced in response to biotic and abiotic stress by GM potatoes.Survey of analytical techniques available and under development for long term monitoring of FS of GMOs and their products.Gene expression in anthers and nectaries of transgenic plants.The stability of expression and inheritance of transgenes in brassica.Development of methods to predict the allergenic potential of genetically modified foods.Development an in vitro screening method for allergens in novel foods.Adverse reactions to food.
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the safety of imported genetically modified ingredients reportedly used in the production of(a) pot noodles and (b) other food products on sale in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [72001]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 22 February 1999]: The safety of all GM food ingredients permitted for use in foods on sale in the UK has been thoroughly assessed by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes and judged to be as safe as those from their non GM equivalents.