HC Deb 02 March 1999 vol 326 cc723-4W
Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those matters that have been referred to the Standing Committee for Foodstuffs under Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients. [69871]

Mr. Nick Brown

The following matters have been discussed at the Standing Committee for Foodstuffs under Regulation 258/97 since it came into force in May 1997:

  • Lactulose
  • Hemp extract
  • Soya and Maize labelling1
  • Psyllium seed Husk
  • Sitostanal esters
  • Stevia rebanudiana
  • Erythritol
  • Phospholids
  • Genetically modified tomato products1
  • Phytosterol esters
  • Olestra
  • High pressure processing
  • Linola
  • Criteria for accepting notifications under article 3(4) of regulation 258/971
  • Oilseed rape oil1
  • Processed genetically modified maize1
  • Interesterified fats
  • 1 Genetic modification issues.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each of the initial assessments in connection with the placing on the market of genetically modified novel foods or novel food ingredients, pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97, the comments or reasoned objections made by(a) himself, (b) other Member States and (c) the European Commission. [69874]

Mr. Nick Brown

[holding answer 8 February 1999] Initial assessments under EC Regulation 258/97 have been made for the following novel and GM foods: Stevia rebaudiana, phospholipids, chicory, and tomatoes (for processing).

The UK Advisory Committee for Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) concluded that there was insufficient information provided to be able to come to a view on the safety of the Stevia rebaudiana, chicory and phospholipids. Concern was also expressed about the lack of suitable labelling proposals for the latter two. The ACNFP concluded that the GM tomato products were as safe as processed products from non-GM tomatoes.

I am pressing the European Commission to develop clear rules on confidentiality to enable us to publish details of comments or reasoned objections made by other Member States relating to novel food applications.