HC Deb 03 February 1999 vol 324 cc691-2W
Mr. Tyler

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provisions(a) exist and (b) are planned to require companies producing animal feeds to label products as containing ingredients produced as a result of genetic modification. [68773]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 2 February 1999]: Current EU and UK legislation on animal feeding stuffs does not require the presence of genetically modified material to be labelled. It is anticipated that this issue will be addressed by a proposed regulation which the Commission is expected to submit formally to Council later this year. Labelling of genetically modified (GM) animal feed Background Note Viable GM feed materials—ie., those capable of replication—are regulated under Council Directive 90/220 on the Deliberate Release of GMOs. Following a 1997 amendment to this Directive, any viable GM materials subsequently issued with a marketing consent are required to be labelled, although these provisions are non-specific. Because this amendment was not retrospective, the Monsanto soya and Ciba-Geigy (now Novartis) maize already authorised are not subject to these requirements for feed use. However, this is largely academic, as the vast majority of feed materials are processed by-products (ie., non-viable). There is at present no product legislation regulating the authorisation of non-viable animal feed materials. These are likely to be covered in a forthcoming Commission proposal for a Council Regulation on Novel Feeds, which we expect to be formally submitted to Council later this year. This will to some extent parallel the existing Novel Foods Regulation, and regulate not only GM materials but also other novel feeds. We anticipate that the proposed labelling requirements will be consistent with the Commission's global approach (ie., does contain/does not contain). In the absence of crop segregation and comprehensive legislative requirements, it is not possible to know the extent to which GM material is being used in animal feed in the UK. However, given the widespread use of materials derived from soya and maize, the probability is that some is present, although most likely in processed form (eg., maize gluten feed). Moreover, there could also be by-products from GM crops, such as cotton seed, which have been grown in the USA but for which marketing consent has not been sought in Europe under 90.220. With regard to the effects of processing on GM material, it is known that this disrupts DNA. In the case of the Ciba-Geigy (now Novartis) maize, tests were conducted on maize gluten feed which indicated that the antibiotic resistance gene plus its replicator could not have survived processing. Further work on the effects of processing for a number of crops is being undertaken.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library the results of the Government-commissioned toxicology tests carried out on Monsanto's genetically modified(a) cotton and (b) corn crops. [68775]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 2 February 1999]: The Government do not commission research into an individual company's crops but can require additional work to be undertaken by all companies themselves when this is considered to be necessary. All toxicology data submitted for safety evaluation is required to have been produced to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards. Under GLP, all studies must follow written standard procedures and all laboratory records and samples must be archived. All UK GLP certified laboratories are subject to independent inspections by Department of Health inspectors in accordance with EC requirements. Laboratories in the USA are subject to GLP inspections by the US authorities.

All data considered by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, except that considered to be commercially sensitive, are published on the DETR Public Register. In addition, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes strongly encourages companies seeking food safety assessment to deposit a copy of their submissions with the British Library.

Mr. Tyler

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that consumers can purchase animal produce which does not originate from animals fed genetically modified feed. [68777]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 2 February 1999]: All genetically modified (GM) animal feed is rigorously assessed to ensure that the safety of consumers is not compromised by its use. However the Government recognise the desire of some consumers to be able to purchase products that have not been produced in this way. We therefore welcome the EC Commissions intention to draft a regulation on the labelling of GM Feed which will enable this wish to be satisfied. This is expected to be presented to the Council for agreement later this year. In the meantime, organic food producers and some others are already offering products which meet the needs of consumers who do not wish to purchase food produced using this feed.