§ Lord Beaumont of Whitleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
When, why, how and under what legal power the non-statutory provisional seed certification scheme was established. [HL1168]
§ Lord DonoughueThe scheme was established in 1975 by means of a letter to all maintainers and breeders' agents. The purpose of the scheme was to allow seed of a variety to be multiplied under a controlled system in advance of acceptance on a National List and prior to entry into the statutory seed certification system. No legal power was necessary as this was a non-statutory scheme.
§ Lord Beaumont of Whitleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many seeds have been entered in the non-statutory provisional seed certification scheme; and whether they will list all the seeds they have refused to enter on the national seed list after entry in the provisional scheme. [HL1169]
§ Lord DonoughueSince 1 July 1996, 340 varieties have been entered into the non-statutory provisional seed certification scheme in England and Wales. Of these, eight have been refused entry on to the National List as follows:
Application reference number
165WA
- AFP 1/1011 winter wheat
- AFP 1/1072 winter wheat
- AFP 1/1082 winter wheat
- AFP 1/1089 winter wheat
- AFP 1/1106 winter wheat
- AFP 2/1339 winter barley
- AFP 33/173 winter field bean
- AFP 33/175 spring field bean
§ Lord Beaumont of Whitleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What provisions are in place for access to information from, and participation of the public in, the non-statutory provisional seed certification scheme. [HL1170]
§ Lord DonoughueInformation about the scheme that operates for England and Wales is contained in a booklet published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. A copy of this has been placed in the Library of the House. Participation in the scheme is subject' to acceptance of the terms and conditions contained in this booklet.
§ Lord Beaumont of Whitleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will specify which applications have been made for genetically-modified seeds to be entered in the non-statutory provisional seed certification scheme by company, date and corresponding deliberate release consent under Directive 90/220 and national list application whether before or after 5 February 1999. [HL1171]
§ Lord DonoughueAn application by Plant Genetic Systems to enter the parental lines of a genetically modified spring hybrid rape variety into the scheme in England and Wales was made in March 1996. The marketing consent number was 94/M1/1 issued in February 1996. None of the progeny of the parental lines was brought forward for provisional certification. The national list application (Ref No. AFP/35/852) in respect of the hybrid variety obtained from the two parent lines was withdrawn by the applicant in November 1996.
No other applications have been made for genetically modified varieties to be entered into the scheme in England and Wales.
§ Lord Beaumont of Whitleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, since the introduction of the non-statutory provisional seed certification scheme, seeds can be, or have been, entered on the national list without having previously been entered in the provisional scheme. [HL 1172]
§ Lord DonoughueYes—entry into the non-statutory provisional seed certification scheme is voluntary.
§ Lord Beaumont of Whitleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why their original decision to exclude genetically modified seeds from the non-statutory provisional seed certification scheme has recently been reversed. [HL1173]
§ Lord DonoughueNo decision has been taken to exclude genetically modified seeds from the scheme. In August 1998 a control measure was introduced in England and Wales in respect of applications for the provisional certification of the seed of winter varieties of hybrid oilseed rape entering the first year of national166WA list trials in autumn 1998. The control measure required a signed statement from the applicant that the variety was not genetically modified. Anyone wishing to enter a genetically modified variety of winter hybrid oilseed rape into the scheme in autumn 1998 was not prevented from doing so but was asked to contact the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It was made clear that this was an interim arrangement designed to ensure that genetically modified varieties would not enter the scheme in autumn 1998 without the Ministry's knowledge while procedures were under review and that new arrangements would be introduced in spring 1999.