§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the first trials of genetically modified crops to be completed; and what period of evaluation would be required thereafter before an application for commercial planting of a genetically modified crop could be considered. [69822]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 8 February 1999]: The first trials of genetically modified (GM) crops in the United Kingdom were completed in the late 1980s. Since then several hundred further trials of GM crops have been completed. Each series of trials is subject to a consent which requires a report of the trial itself and a post trial monitoring report to be completed and submitted to the regulatory authorities. This information is used as part of the assessment of subsequent applications for trials. Those carrying out the trials also evaluate their work and often publish the results in the open literature where the information is accessible to all.
The recently announced farm-scale evaluations of three types of herbicide tolerant GM crops to evaluate their impact on farmland wildlife will begin in April 1999 (for spring-sown rape and maize) and autumn 1999 (for autumn-sown rape). These trials will each continue for four years. It is intended that progress reports will be prepared at the end of each growing season so early results can be considered as they become available. The progress of the trials will be overseen by a steering committee. The evaluation of the results from each growing season will enable the committee to influence how subsequent stages of the trials should be undertaken.
Under the current legislation applications for commercial planting must be considered as soon as they are received by one of the European Competent 838W Authorities. Applications must contain the information laid down in the relevant directive (90/220/EEC) and an assessment of possible impacts on the environment. Once the Competent authority is satisfied that the required information has been provided, it must forward the dossier to the commission within 90 days of the application being made, with an opinion on whether or not approval should be granted. The dossier is then circulated to the other member states which must give an opinion to the EC within 60 days. If there is a qualified majority in favour of the product an EU wide marketing consent is granted.
Once an EU wide consent has been granted under directive 90–220, commercial planting may commence, subject to any limitations and conditions set out in the consent and subject to the other necessary approvals having been granted, such as, the placing of the GM variety on the National List of Seeds or the EU Common Catalogue, approval under the Novel Foods Regulations and/or approval for the use of the relevant herbicide to be used on the new GM crop.