§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies have been undertaken into the possible effects of antibiotic resistance gene markers retained in foods produced by the genetic modification of crops on(a) humans and (b) animals; and if he will make a statement. [86315]
§ Mr. RookerAs well as its two reports on the use of antibiotic resistance markers (ARMs) in foods (published in 1994 and 1996), as part of its rigorous assessment of individual GM foods, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) always looks very carefully at the use of ARMs. It recommends against approval in those circumstances where it considers that there is a theoretical finite risk that their use might give rise to an increase in resistance against clinically important antibiotics. Studies are currently in progress to try to ascertain the exact size of such a risk, although this is expected to be very small.