§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the President of the Council when the then Select Committee on European Legislation reported on proposals from the European Commission to regulate the growing of genetically modified plants for research and sale, when such proposals were considered in Standing Committee and on the Floor of the House; and what resolutions were passed. [72180]
§ Mrs. BeckettThe European Commission adopted a proposal in February 1998 to amend Council Directive 90/220/EEC. This Directive establishes a system of controls which require prior consent from a Member State competent authority or any research and development release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Approval at Community level is required before any 79W product containing GMOs may be placed on the Community market. The proposed amendment, which is contained in EC document 6378/98, COM(98)85 final, is currently under negotiation. The Government submitted an explanatory memorandum on the proposal on 23 March 1998 which was considered by the then Select Committee on European Legislation on 29 April 1998. The Committee reported that the proposal raised issues of political importance but requested further information from the Government and did not clear it from scrutiny (26th report, 97–98, HC 155-xxv1). The Committee subsequently reconsidered the proposal on 9 December 1998 on the basis of further information provided by the Government in a letter of 27 November 1998 from my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment. The Committee maintained that the proposal raised issues of political importance and recommended that it should be debated in European Standing Committee A (3rd report, 98–99 HC 34-iii). That debate has yet to take place but will be held in good time before any decisions are taken on the proposed amendments by the Council of Ministers. An adjournment debate on the effect of Directive 90/220/EEC was held on 16 December 1998, Official Report, columns 927–33, by my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson).