§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what proposals were promoted by the Government at the EU Environment Council on 24 and 25 June in respect of the Biosafety Protocol; [90519]
(2) what steps the Government took at the EU Environment Council on 24 and 25 June to oppose attempts to exclude or exempt any genetically-engineered organisms from labelling requirements under the Biosafety Protocol; [90520]
(3) if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the resumption of the Biosafety Protocol negotiations, and on the position the Government advocated at the EU Environment Council on 24 and 25 June in respect of any such resumption. [90518]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Environment Council Meeting held on 24 and 25 June concluded that the Commission and the member states should make every effort to promote a successful completion to negotiations of the Biosafety Protocol with the aim of concluding negotiations by about the end of the year. The meeting agreed that, based on consultations held so far, there was no need to amend the elements which formed the compromise package tabled by the EU at the end of the Cartagena meeting, including proposals for documentation. The UK fully supported these conclusions.