HC Deb 16 February 1999 vol 325 cc700-1W
Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received about genetically modified crops from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes; and if he will make a statement. [68629]

Mr. Nick Brown

[holding answer 1 February 1999]: All advice received from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes is published in their Annual Reports. Copies of these have been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has held with English Nature about genetically modified crops. [68066]

Mr. Nick Brown

On 16 November my hon. Friend the Minister of State met the Chairman of English Nature to discuss genetically modified crops. In addition my officials and those of English Nature have attended recent meetings at which this subject has been discussed.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the circumstances in which food and food ingredients containing, or produced using, genetically modified organisms or micro-organisms must be labelled. [69875]

Mr. Nick Brown

[holding answer 8 February 1999]: Provision for labelling novel foods is described in article 8 of Regulation 258/97. This requires that the consumer is informed of any characteristic or property of the food, such as composition, nutritional value or intended food use, which renders a novel food or food ingredient no longer equivalent to an existing food or food ingredient. In addition, the food must be labelled if it could have health implications for certain population sectors, contains ingredients that raise ethical concerns or contains a genetically modified organism.

Finally, Regulation 1139/98 on labelling genetically modified (GM) soya and maize sets a precedent for the labelling of all food ingredients containing or produced from genetically modified organisms where they contain GM material (protein or DNA).