HC Deb 22 February 1999 vol 326 c185W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research has been done by(a) his Department and (b) consultants to his Department into the possible effects of genetically modified crops or plants on (i) how insects pollinate and (ii) the quality of soil. [72527]

Mr. Rooker

All of the work within MAFF's research programme to assess the risks to the agricultural environment from the release of genetically modified crops is carried out by researchers under contract to the Ministry; none of the work is done in-house by the Ministry.

The Ministry has commissioned no research to date on possible effects of genetically modified crops on how insects pollinate, or on the quality of the soil.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if crops grown in genetically modified food trials will be allowed to enter the food chain. [71413]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 15 February 1999]Foods or food ingredients produced from GM crops may enter the food chain provided they have first passed a rigorous safety assessment and have been approved and labelled in accordance with the EC Novel Foods and Novel Food Ingredients Regulation.