§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to use his power under Part VI of the Environmental174W Protection Act 1990 to vary existing genetically modified marketing consents issued thereunder to include a condition requiring post-release monitoring. [88159]
§ .Mr. MeacherThere are no plans to vary existing consents issued in compliance with Part C of Council Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Once a GM crop has Part C (marketing) consent under the Directive it applies across all member states. Individual member states cannot vary a consent unilaterally. Under the new arrangements agreed in the Environment Ministers' Council last December, all new applications for part C consent will have to include plans for post market monitoring. Government and industry, through SCIMAC (Supply Chain Initiative for Modified Agricultural Crops), have a voluntary agreement that for consents already granted or currently under consideration crops will be grown and managed in accordance with the SCIMAC Guidelines which include post-release monitoring.