§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will issues guidance to bee-keepers about protection from contact with genetically modified material in cases where they wish to label their produce as organic and non-genetically modified; and if he will make a statement. [93201]
§ Mr. RookerExisting UK rules on organic honey production require that hives are not placed within four miles of conventionally farmed land, private gardens, or areas subject to inorganic pollution. Following the recent agreement on Community livestock standards, including rules on honey production, the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS) will be reexamining existing UK standards to determine the changes that will need to be made. This is likely to include the issue of controls on possible GM contamination.
In the meantime, beekeepers are advised to contact the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions for details and location of experimental GM sites so that they may relocate their hives should they so wish.