HC Deb 23 June 1999 vol 333 cc415-6W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the studies which he has evaluated examining the effects of irradiation processes on GM material; what safety requirements apply to such practices; and if he will make a statement [87512]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 22 June 19991]I am not aware of any studies specifically to examine the effects of irradiation on GM material but a considerable amount of work has been carried out on the effect of this treatment on a wide range of genetic material consumed as food. There is therefore already an extensive body of information available to show that irradiation of nonliving material, whatever its make-up, does not render it inherently harmful.