HC Deb 15 February 1999 vol 325 c578W
Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current procedures for approving genetically engineered animal feeds; if ACRE has sole responsibility for assessing applications; and who will take such decisions in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Union. [70347]

Mr. Rooker

In addition to meeting requirements applicable to all animal feeds, a GM feeding stuff requires approval for commercial use following the procedures set out in Directive 90/220/EEC. This Directive has the objective of ensuring that the product does not cause harm to animals, human health or the environment. The applicant must submit a dossier of the required information to one Member State who takes the lead for that product, and assesses the information and the potential risks. Once content, the lead Member State forwards the dossier to the Commission with an opinion. Other Member States then consider the dossier and are free to require further information. A collective decision on whether to give EU wide approval for the product is then decided by qualified majority voting.

In the United Kingdom, the dossiers are considered by DETR in consultation with MAFF and the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Offices. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires that formal advice on the safety of GM animal feed is sought from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). In addition, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) also advises MAFF Ministers on implications for the safety of food. In the near future, there will be an important role for the new Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs, liaising as necessary with ACRE and the ACNFP. Advice is also sought from interests in other Departments and English Nature. The final decision is made by the Secretaries of State and the Minister of Agriculture acting jointly.

Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to ensure that genetically engineered animal feed is labelled as such. [70348]

Mr. Rooker

The Ministry is pressing the Commission to forward to the Council its proposal on novel feeds, to include labelling of GM materials.

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