HC Deb 27 January 1999 vol 324 cc298-9W
Mr. Tyler

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to respond to the second report of the House of Lords European Communities Committee on EC Regulations of Genetic Modification in Agriculture [HL11]; and if he will make a statement on measures to improve information on GM food for consumers. [67397]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: The Government will respond to the second report of the House of Lords European Communities Committee on EC Regulations of Genetic Modification in Agriculture within the two months prescribed limit.

The Government remain committed to providing clear information so that consumers can make an informed choice about genetically modified (GM) foods. EC legislation agreed last year requiring all food containing ingredients derived from GM soya or maize to be clearly labelled sets an important precedent for the labelling of all GM foods.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the maximum detectable percentage of GM material allowed in finished food produced which permits that food to be labelled as free from GMOs. [67590]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: There is no legal requirement for foods containing GM material below a certain limit to be labelled as free from GMOs. However, the EC Regulation on labelling of GM soya and maize (1139/98) does recognise the need to consider a de-minimis threshold to avoid the situation where low levels of accidental mixing would require a consignment otherwise free of GM material to be labelled as genetically modified. The Government will continue to press the European Commission to reach a conclusion on this issue.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what estimate he has made of the percentage of crops under cultivation which are genetically modified; [67589]

(2) what is the current acreage of GM crops under cultivation. [67596]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: There are currently no GM crops being grown commercially in the UK.

Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much genetically modified(a) maize, (b) soya and (c) canola was imported for (i) seed, (ii) animal feed and (iii) human consumption in the last year for which figures are available. [67208]

Mr. Rooker

Import figures for maize, soya and canola can be found in H.M. Customs and Excise Business Monitors in the Library of the House. They do not, however, contain any separate breakdown for genetically modified crops.

Individual import consignments of maize, soya and canola may be used for a variety of purposes, including directly as animal feed, for human consumption or for industrial use. For example, when crushing oilseeds for human consumption, by-products can be used for animal feed.