§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the chemical residues retained as a result of crop treatment in(a) imported US genetically modified soya and (b) imported nonenetically modified soya. [88942]
§ Mr. RookerTwo genetically modified (GM) types of soya are currently grown in the USA. One is tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate, and the other to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium.
Experimental studies indicate that two major residues may be found in glyphosate treated soya. The residues concerned are glyphosate itself and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA). These two residues occur in both conventionally bred soya and genetically modified (GM) glyphosate tolerant soya. However, the levels of the metabolite AMPA are generally higher in GM crop.
In the case of glufosinate-ammonium the major residue in conventionally bred varieties is glufosinate. In GM varieties the major components of the residue are glufosinate and a metabolite n-acetyl glufosinate.